Nordic walking group launched for people with breast cancer diagnosis
The ABCD CIC – Community Interest Company was founded by Joanne Taylor who wanted to provide support to people like herself who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
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For Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, GM Walking met with the ABCDiagnosis CIC, founded by Joanne Taylor to provide support to people like herself who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
As an avid ambassador for nordic walking and its many benefits for those diagnosed with breast cancer, Jo was so keen to involve other people and successfully applied for a GM Walking grant to train more instructors to offer free nordic walking sessions to people across the North West.
Jo advocates for the physical activity benefits of nordic walking, explaining that, following surgery for breast cancer, if lymph nodes are removed the arms can become swollen and difficult to move due a condition known as lymphoedema.
During nordic walking the lymph is moved around the body more easily which helps support movement and lymphatic drainage. For this reason, the group hopes to reach all Greater Manchester hospitals, breast cancer clinics, GPs, Maggies, Macmillan, Cancer charities, and social prescribing groups to signpost patients to this new initiative and create a supportive movement for patients after breast cancer diagnosis.
The core team is coming to fruition with 13 British Nordic Walking trained instructors covering the Greater Manchester area with the aim of each instructor running a weekly session, and providing sufficient equipment to run a small group so that participants simply turn up and join in.
They also welcome partners or carers to attend, although breast cancer patients are given priority use of the poles with a small fee charged to those without cancer to keep them financially secure and help with the sustainability of our groups.
The group looks forward to seeing the group grow, develop, and become a sustainable exercise for those who have had breast cancer.
For more information, the group can be found on the following websites:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABCDNordicWalking
Twitter: @abcdiagnosis
Website: www.abcdiagnosis.co.uk
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