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Wednesday 10 August 2022

Worcestershire Oncology’s Walking Football Club –WOWFC – will be celebrating its fifth birthday this August as it continues to grow in popularity. Monthly training sessions take place at Perdiswell Leisure Centre and the team also enjoys competitive fixtures, most recently against Sky Blues Macmillan Walking Footballers in Coventry and against Bromsgrove Walking Football Group, part of Bromsgrove Walking Sports Centre.

Walking Football is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK for both men and women, aged 50+. As the name suggests, running is banned, which makes this a low-impact game with little risk of injury. Games are played at a slower pace, frequently on state-of-the-art artificial pitches, thus reducing the risk of pain, discomfort and injury.

The team was formed by Daniel Bloomer and Richard Cormie, both Radiographers working in the Oncology Department at the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, in collaboration with Macmillan, Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire and the Worcestershire Football Association, to support patients as they undergo or recover from treatment.

Stephen Duckhouse, who had a diagnosis of prostate cancer in 2018, is a member of the team. He said: “Playing and socialising with people who are just like yourself has been very rewarding. Many sports require you to run and, after treatment, that’s not always easy to do. However, walking football allows me to keep fit, it’s a great way for older men like me to keep active. We have players who have never played football who enjoy it, and they find it very rewarding being part of the group.”

Daniel Bloomer, Therapeutic Radiographer said: “Football’s a game well known to promote togetherness and creates long term friendships, and nowhere is this more evident than with WOW FC. It’s been inspiring to watch our patients meet up and maintain an active lifestyle post radiotherapy treatment. I have seen first-hand the positive impact WOW FC has had on cancer patients living in Worcestershire and I know just how much they enjoy being part of such a unique team.

“Walking football has been the perfect solution because being physically active is now known to be very important for people at all stages of the cancer journey.”

Di Fox, helped set up the team and continues to support the group. She added: “Aside from keeping active, I’ve seen the camaraderie and emotional support that the team gives each other both on and off the pitch and this shouldn’t ever be underestimated. During lockdown, the team continued to meet virtually for quizzes which was a great boost for everyone.”

The team meets for fun, football and friendship on the last Friday of each month from 11am to 12pm at Perdiswell Leisure Centre. They will be starting bi-monthly sessions from September and everyone is welcome regardless of experience. For more information, call Di Fox on 07422 726904 or visit www.facebook.com/WOWalkingFC.