Heartbeat Club
"There’s no doubt my health has improved since coming here. Most of our members are pensioners you meet people who are the same age as you and have been through the same experiences."
Dave Barratt
The physical and social well being of Monmouthshire has been improved at the Heartbeat Club
With years of manual farm labour on his side, 81-year-old Bernard Holland believed that heart problems were the least of his worries. But five years ago, he underwent a bypass operation and his views about keeping fit and healthy took a dramatic U-turn.
“It shakes you up when something like this happens and makes you take another glance at the way you look after yourself.” He is now one of the many people reaping the benefits of what the Heartbeat group in Monmouthshire has to offer. For nearly 10 years, the group has been helping to rehabilitate coronary heart patients like Bernard and is a lifeline for many in the area.
“The club instils in your mind that exercise is important and that you’ve got to keep moving if you want to stay fit and healthy,” explains Bernard.
Previously, there was no long-term facility in the area to rehabilitate people with cardiovascular problems and the group had to resort to floor exercises. That was until they received funding under Awards for All Wales to buy new equipment including exercise bikes and cross trainers. Now they have nearly 50 members from all over the area. People from all kinds of backgrounds come together every Friday morning with the same aim in mind. Farmers, doctors and former steel workers attend the weekly sessions held at Caldicot leisure centre. As well as improving the health of its members, the social opportunities and friendships established at the club are highly valued with members regularly go on trips and holidays together.
