GREATER SPORT
SEPTEMBER has seen the launch of two campaigns that are supporting people to move more.
One lady who did just that is Anita Nickson from Stockport, who we first came across in 2017 when she won the Changing Lifestyle award at the Stockport Sports Award.
She went on to win the Greater Manchester Sports Awards for how she had used physical activity to change her lifestyle.
Anita has a condition called Pyoderma Gangrenosum, an auto immune skin disease caused by an over-active immune system.
Over an eight-year period she had 29 hospital admissions, four blood transfusions, 11 cycles of biological chemotherapy over 15 months, steroid-induced type two diabetes, eight blood infections and post-traumatic stress disorder.
“It’s such a horrifically painful thing. Before the biological chemo I went through about 22 different types of drugs, it was horrific,” she said.
Anita’s various conditions meant she required a wheelchair constantly. In 2015 she was referred onto the PARiS (Physical Activity Referral in Stockport) scheme by her GP in the hope that moving more and some strengthening exercises may help.
“Getting moving has been a lifesaver for me really,” said Anita. “There’s a fine line between resting and staying too still and often if I’m not active enough I tend to stiffen up.
“It has benefits for my emotional state; It’s essential to have a positive mindset I believe the mind is that powerful it can affect your physical wellbeing too.
“Even though sometimes I may not feel like exercising we all know that when you do exercise it releases endorphins.
“I never gave up on being able to walk wheelchair-free. Through the PARiS scheme I’ve actually been able to work myself up from a wheelchair, to a frame, to crutches.”
When Anita received her award at The Greater Manchester Sports Awards, she walked on stage with only her crutches in front of 550 people. Not only did Anita change her life, she is passionate about helping others too and has set up a petition in a bid to fund more research. For details search Anita Nickson petition in Google
Sport England’s ‘We are undefeatable’ campaign aims to support people like Anita to enable them to move more. According to the 2011 census, one in five people in Greater Manchester – over 500,000 – are living with at least one long-term illness. This includes cancer, dementia, diabetes, asthma, Parkinson’s, arthritis, stroke and depression. Find out more including how to get involved or how to support others at greatersport.co.uk/LTHC.