Action woman is aiming to help get Valley on the move
ABUSY mum-oftwo wants to encourage others to lead an active lifestyle after a persuasive friend transformed her and her family’s lives.
Clare Waterfall-Hallam is supporting the Together We Move Campaign - a Rossendale-based campaign funded by Sport England encouraging active people like herself to support others.
Clare, 43, said two friends were instrumental in helping her turn her lifestyle around a few years ago.
“I was approaching 40 and I was quite overweight, and I wasn’t active, and my eating slipped with it,” she said.
“I felt old and unattractive. It took one of those very persuasive friends to insist that I go for a walk with her, and she helped me realise that the obstacles I had were in my head. I changed my diet and my exercise and now I look and feel younger. I feel more enthusiastic, I have more energy, and I’m in a better frame of mind mentally too.”
This new love of physical activity has not just had a positive effect on Clare, it’s also been the catalyst for the whole family. Ayrton, nine, and Heidi, seven, are regulars at junior Parkrun, and are members of the junior running club in Ramsbottom where Clare is a run leader.
They joined Joe Wicks for his morning sessions during lockdown. They also Thai box as a family and enjoy regular bike rides and walks.
Clare, from Stubbins, said: “I wanted to make sure my children had a healthy lifestyle, and it was embedded into our family life. Rather than it being a ‘thing’ we do, I wanted it to be part of their life. Becoming healthier has had a knockon effect with so many things. Me and the kids have made so many friends through our sports activities and it’s added to our life in so many ways.”
Clare has pledged to get some of my inactive friends active by supporting them in taking the first steps towards a more active lifestyle – and would encourage others to follow suit.
“Everyone has time for exercise – you just have to prioritise your own health,” she added.
Join the Together We Move movement by pledging to support a friend or family member to become more active at togetherwemove.uk