THE ROTARY CLUB OF CHURCH AND OSWALDTWISTLE
A LARGE contingent of walkers from a local cheer and dance squad will take part and intend to raise funds at the annual Hyndburn Charity Walk organised by the Rotary Club of Church and Oswaldtwistle, which will take place on Sunday, May 14.
At last year’s Charity Walk, more than £2,000 was raised by the Burnley Clarets Cheer and Dance squad to help finance 56 cheerleaders who represented the UK in cheerleading, group stunt, street dance and Pom dance in Slovenia.
The Burnley group were highly successful and came back home with four firsts, five seconds, four thirds and one fourth place.
Donna Nuttall, the organiser, said: “I was very proud of what the girls achieved under keen competition, and the number of successes is a great credit to the training and dedication they showed prior to arrival in Slovenia.
“The trip was very educational, and very enjoyable.”
This year’s World Cheerleading Championship will be held in Japan in November, and five girls from the Burnley group have been selected as part of Team UK.
In order to help finance their trip and that of their family, 50 or so walkers will endeavour to get sponsorship to help raise money towards the cost, around £1,200 per girl.
The girls’ coach Sophie Boyle, who is going to Japan, is also the head coach for Team UK.
Anyone wishing to sponsor the girls should contact Sophie Boyle on 07805 398720.
The annual Charity Walk attracts over 500 walkers and is one of Hyndburn’s largest events, raising over £25,000 – all of which goes to the charity or good cause of the walker’s choice.
Although the Rotary club carries out all the organisation and stewarding, all the monies raised goes direct to the charity/good cause by the walker themselves.
This is the 12th consecutive year that the Rotary club has organised this charity walk and we are delighted at the continued success, both by the high number of walkers taking part and the monies raised for charity.
An excellent morning is assured as walkers on the 10K route are taken along the scenic Leeds-Liverpool canal and then the old railway track at Great Harwood.
There are refreshments available and plenty of toilet facilities.
Rotarian Ron Pickup, organiser of the walk, said: “Our Rotary club is delighted once more to welcome the large group of Cheer dancers who were so successful in Slovenia with their large haul of trophies, and wish them well in Japan.”
To register online go to :rotarywalk.org.uk or telephone Stuart Duhan on 01254 433501 or email Stuart: stuartduhan@hotmail.co.uk
Every year Rotary clubs in Great Britain organise a Stroke Awareness Week, when local clubs assisted by qualified nurses check the blood pressure of as many people as possible.
At Oswaldtwistle Mills on Saturday, April 8, the Rotary Club of Church and Oswaldtwistle had members on hand all day to encourage members of the public to take part in being tested.
125 tests were taken, with 85 per cent of these being within the acceptable range.
Fifteen per cent of the people with a slightly higher blood pressure reading were advised to see their doctor.
Blood pressure is a measure of the force with which the blood applies pressure on the walls of the arteries as it is pumped around the body by the heart.
An adult’s blood pressure should normally be 120/80.
High blood pressure puts a strain on the vital arteries and the brain.
The excess pressure can damage the lining of the artery, allowing blood clots to form and cause blockage.
The extra strain may also cause blood vessels to burst.
When a clot forms, a blockage or a blood vessel bursts in the brain, it causes a stroke.
By reducing a high blood pressure to within the normal range, around 40 per cent of strokes can be prevented.
Rotarians were pleased to be involved in this stroke awareness programme and wish to thank Friend of Rotary Victoria Clayton, and Rotarian Margaret Barry who acted as nurses, and Patricia Knight who was on hand as senior medical adviser.
Maureen Hartley, the club Rotarian who organised the event said: “I wish to thank the management of Oswaldtwistle Mills for allowing the club to use their premises, and also the medical team for carrying out the testing of the blood pressure checks, and of course the public who agreed to participate.”