Everybody Health and Leisure hosted a free drop-in event to celebrate World Parkinson's Day and the launch of their weekly, Bike Therapy for People Living with Parkinson's in Crewe.

Taking place on Monday 15 April at Crewe Lifestyle Centre, the event was open for residents, health professionals and local organisations to come together and watch the group cycling class in action to see what the class involves.

Free tea and coffee was provided so everyone could stay and speak to the instructor and Everybody Healthy team for more information about the class.

Taking place on Monday 15 April at Crewe Lifestyle Centre, the Bike Therapy for People Living with Parkinson's launch was open for residents, health professionals and local organisations (Ryan Parker).

They also received a voucher to redeem their first Bike Therapy for People Living with Parkinson's class for free.

Senior health innovation manager at Everybody Health and Leisure, Donna Williamson, told Nub News: "Our Bike Therapy class for People Living with Parkinson's has seen a positive start.

"The class has been running for six weeks and we are full with class numbers, which is brilliant.

"We are looking to start a second class, growing the programme. We are amazed at the take up and really pleased with such a great start to the programme."

"The peer support is probably one of the most important aspects, one of the things we have introduced after the class is we have set up a social gathering in our café, where participants have a tea or a coffee and chat with each other offering peer support, which has proven a strong element of the programme.

"As a charity we have just invested in training more of our staff in Level 4 Exercise for Neurological Diseases. 

"The first thing we are going to do is expand this class to include a second cycling class and look at other centres to expand the class too.

Bike Therapy for People Living With Parkinson's class participant, Mike (Everybody).

"We will also launching a programme for other neurological conditions and bringing in different types of sessions like circuit training, growing the programme, catering for more people and needs."

Mike has been coming to the Bike Therapy for People Living with Parkinson's since the class started.

The biggest benefits he has noticed since coming is mainly the social side and just talking to people.

Mike said: "It is isolating and you do tend to stay at home, probably because it is a bit unpredictable really, one hour you could be fine and a couple of hours later you can't hold a spoon.

"Sometimes you daren't go out, certainly not for meals or anything like that unless you are quite confident that your medication is going to work at that time, it's a bit of a lottery to be honest." 

"If you see this class now and you see people cycling, this is not what it is like all the time.

"It can be quite devastating the difference between, one minute you are feeling fine and you wouldn't know anything is wrong and then an hour later you can be absolutely fatigued and you struggle walking and you struggle to do anything, any coordination or anything, so it's not always as you see it.

"Behind the scenes it can be completely different, but you come to places like this and you talk to people and it's great because you're not alone, other people are going through this so it is really good to sort of talk to people."  

Fitness experience manager and Bike Therapy for People Living with Parkinson's class instructor at Everybody Health & Leisure, Victoria Barker, with class participant Mike (Everybody).

"You feel like you have achieved something when you have been on the bike for three quarters of an hour you feel like you have actually achieved something.

"It's a positive impact really when there is all this negativity around you with it. It's good."

Another class participant, Mike, who could previously only walk for one mile, says he is now able to walk for two miles with no problem and has walked three miles with a few stops.

Fitness experience manager and Bike Therapy for People Living with Parkinson's class instructor, Victoria Barker, added: "I love this class, it's one of the most rewarding classes we deliver.

"It's amazing to see people come in for the first time and feel very apprehensive about what they are doing and leave with full confidence and knowledge about the benefits of the Bike Therapy class.

"The most overwhelming change has to be the confidence the participants leave with.

"We see people coming in who have never even discussed Parkinson's with anybody else and their diagnosis remains a secret, they come to the class and they leave feeling so confident they are able to take part in other classes.

Free tea and coffee was provided so everyone could stay and speak to the instructor and Everybody Healthy team for more information about the Bike Therapy for People Living with Parkinson's class (Ryan Parker).

"They return here and even some of them have brought exercise bikes that they use at home as well." 

To find out more about the Bike Therapy for People Living with Parkinson's dedicated group cycling class at Crewe Lifestyle Centre, contact the Everybody Healthy team on: 01270 685589, memail: [email protected], or visit HERE.

READ MORE: Man taken to hospital with 'potentially serious injuries' following collision on M6 in Crewe.

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