Newsletter - 41st Edition - June 2007

Wednesday 11th April

There was a very good turn out at the April group meeting. Mark Peters gave a very interesting talk on Tai Chi., he explained all the benefits of the exercise such as relaxation, and balance, and it also helps to ease the aches and pains we all get as we get older. Mark gave a demonstration, which was done, to some lovely relaxing music.
Linda Barratt also thinks Tai Chi would be very beneficial to our members. Mark would be interested in taking a class for Hale & Hearties if there were enough interest, 35 members have already shown interest. We will keep you informed of any developments. Linda gave her talk and told the group of some changes taking place at the Alexandra hospital and in the N.H.S. after which she took questions, which were very interesting and helpful to other members.
Linda also had leaflets on Nutritional Therapy and Useful Supplements, if anyone picked up the ‘Useful supplements’, it stated. - (Do not take omega 3 if on blood thinning drugs) this was a misprint and it is ok to take omega 3 when on aspirin etc.

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Thursday 13th June @730pm

Mr Wade Dimitri, (to be confirmed) Consultant Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon from Walsgrave Hospital is going to give a presentation. This is going to be a very interesting evening, with hopefully time for questions. We are very grateful to Mr Dimitri for giving up his valuable time to talk to the group, so please let’s have a fantastic turn out and give Mr Dimitri a very warm welcome.

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Wednesday 8th August @730pm

We have invited Jenny Ashman the area co-ordinator for the COUNTY AIR AMBULANCE SERVICE to give a talk on the service they provide. We understand that the talk can be quite witty and very interesting. Please give us your wholehearted support. The group will be making a donation to this worthwhile service. There will also be a short quiz conducted by Brian, with a prize for the winners.

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Wednesday 10th October @ 7.30pm

Our Annual General Meeting will be taking place; followed quite quickly by our annual CHEESE AND WINE EVENT. The A.G.M. lasts for approx: 25/30 mins and time is given if members wish to ask questions.

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Birthday Boy

It was the Chairman’s 70^th birthday on May 5^th and unknown to him, Helen our Wed/Fri Redditch instructor had organised a surprise or two for him. When Brian popped in to the 4^th May Friday pm exercise class, he was greeted by 40 smiling faces who sang “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” to him, whilst Helen presented him with a large greetings card and gifts.

For the first time in his life Brian was speechless. He would like to express his gratitude for the kind wishes and gifts to all concerned.

It was also Kath Barber’s birthday on 4^th May and we wish her belated birthday greetings.

We must also mention Peter Shackleton who wore his special “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” socks to honour the occasion.

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Hale and Hearties website

If anyone has looked at our website lately, www.redditchhaleandhearties.org.uk, you will have noticed it was either way out of date or unobtainable.

We are now very happy to inform you that it has been updated and is up and running. You can now see all our information, events and contact numbers.

Other useful sites are:

Heart health - www.bhf.org.uk
Quitting smoking – www.quit.org.uk
Healthy eating – www.eatwell.gov.uk
General health advice –www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

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British Heart Foundation

For the British Heart Foundation heart week, Linda Barratt will be doing a 28 mile cycle ride. This event will be taking place on Sunday 3^rd June.

If anyone would like to sponsor Linda they can get sponsor forms from the exercise classes or you can send donations to:

Linda Barratt C.C.U. Alexandra Hospital alternately, you can pass donations to Brian at the exercise classes. We will keep you informed how well Linda did and how much was raised.

Thank you for your support.

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Rehabilitation

Linda and Jane will be doing a sponsored walk to help boost the funds at the rehab at the Alexandra hospital. The rehab team will use the funds for the benefit of all the rehab patients.

The walk will take place Sunday 14^th October, walking along the canal from Bromsgrove to Worcester , the meeting place T.B.A. To join the walk or want a sponsor form contact Linda or Jane on 01527 503882

Purple Grape Juice

According to a new study in laboratory trials purple grape juice is very beneficial for heart health, it also improves short-term memory and it has been recently reported that purple grape juice may inhibit the formation of breast tumours.

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Exercise Classes

The Bromsgrove Friday morning class and the Oakenshaw Friday afternoon classes are all doing very well, but the Wednesday evening class numbers are down and is very inconsistent, if anyone knows of any reason for this, we would be very grateful if you let us know.

We would like to welcome all our new members to the exercise classes and group meetings.

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Little and Often

Many of us will be relieved by a small study showing that several short sessions of exercise, lower blood pressure more efficiently than one long one. Up to now many experts have recommended ½ hours moderately intensive physical exercise each day, most days of the week. Researchers worked with 21 people whose blood pressure was high.

Each walked on a treadmill for 40 minutes, then, a week later did 4 ten minutes sessions of walking over a 3 ½ hour period. The good news is that their blood pressure fell more after the 4 short sessions than after the 1 long one.

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Walks

I (Denise) went for a lovely walk to the
Lickey Hills; the Blue Bells were in abundance and I tink the best I have seen.

****

If anyone would like to go for a walk
around Arrow Valley Lake, we will be meeting at the Needle Museum car park, on Sunday 17th June

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