Blades fans feeling sharp following fitness scheme success

3rd September 2015

Sheffield United's Community Foundation has helped a group of Blades fans to become fighting fit through a health and fitness scheme.

The group, consisting of nine Sheffield United fans, attended a 12-week course at Bramall Lane called 'Fit Fans', which was funded by Sheffield City Council. The course included fitness and dieting advice sessions as well as low impact exercises and training at Blades' home ground. And upon completion of the course, the group of nine were invited to join the Blades Community Foundation's Walking Football sessions in the future. Between them, the nine participants lost 81lbs over the 12 weeks, with 64-year-old Steve Cooper from Gleadless, who lost 9lb, heaping particular praise on the project and its organisers. -I'm eating better, as well as healthier and as a result I've got a lot more energy, said Steve. -We're all in the same boat and we all want to lose weight. I've lost about 9lbs in 10 weeks it's up to us now that we know what to do. Rob Ward, programme creator, said: -After the end of the course the group will know everything they need to about leading healthier lifestyles and hopefully they will carry on together as a group to achieve even more. Councillor Mazher Iqbal, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Equality, said: -We fund services to help people reach and maintain a healthy weight. -These are for everyone, of any age, weight or shape. Anyone worried about their weight, or their child's weight, can contact us directly or go through their GP for a referral. The Sheffield United Community Foundation is a charity working in the areas of sport participation, education, health and social inclusion. Using the appeal of football and sport in general, the key charitable aim of the Foundation is to build links between the football club and the community. Programmes are aimed at strengthening self-esteem, developing personal skills and promoting healthy lifestyles. A new Fit Fans programme will soon be run once more by the Community Foundation. For more information on this, emailcommunity@sufc.ac.uk.