WheelPower appoint Physical Activity Advisors at spinal injury centres
Spinal injury centres at Pinderfields, West Yorkshire and the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield will benefit from the support of two newly appointed Physical Activity Advisors.
Kevin Plowman (Pinderfields, Wakefield) and Matt Clarke (Princess Royal Spinal Unit at Northern General Hospital, Sheffield) will provide expert advice and support to patients with a recent spinal injury.
Kevin and Matt will promote the benefits of living a healthy active lifestyle, and support the provision of opportunities for patients to take part in sport and physical activity.
Former wheelchair tennis Paralympian Kevin Plowman, 54 from Halifax will use his sporting experience and knowledge to support patients at the Pinderfields spinal unit. A strong believer in the power of being active Kevin said:
“When someone tells you that you are never going to walk again you could think that’s the end of sport. But actually, it's the beginning"
Kevin continues:
"Sport is a great way to live your life, and it doesn’t have to be elite sport or competing at the highest level at the Paralympics to be beneficial. Sport can be a vehicle to regain confidence, wellbeing and to feel good about yourself. Hopefully in my role I can make a positive difference to people’s lives and help them to adjust to what in most cases is a life changing event."
Alongside providing general advice and information on sport and physical activity, the Advisors will offer one to one support to patients, helping them through their rehabilitation.
Matt Clarke, 38 who lives in Scunthorpe is passionate about sport and exercise. Through his own experiences as a wheelchair racer that has taken him to the New York marathon, Matt aims to show the way to patients currently recovering from a spinal cord injury.
Now seen at the gym 6 days a week and comfortably pushing 7 or 8 miles a day, Matt has seen how the impact of exercise has benefited his life, where previously a short stroll to see his friends could be a struggle. Matt said:
“In my role as physical activity advisor I am confident I can make a difference to their lives and hopefully improving their lives in a big way.“
With support from the Stewarts Law Foundation, these new roles will mean that double the amount of support being available across the Yorkshire region.
