A support group set up to help children in Devon who have parents in the armed forces now has more than 2,500 members.
The Plymouth based group, Her Majesty's School Heroes organises activities to let the children share their experiences, particularly if their parents are deployed abroad.
Widey Court Primary School has over 120 children with serving parents, arranged a surfing day in Cornwall.
The charity is affiliated to the Royal British Legion and local schools have a dedicated space on its website and have a large laminated map to show where family members may be serving.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18242470
Friday
Kitesurfer Bruno Sroka claims Channel record
A French kitesurfer is claiming to have broken a record for crossing the English Channel.
Bruno Sroka, 36, arrived off Plymouth Sound after a four hour and 45 minute crossing from Saint Quay Portrieux in Brittany.
He is claiming the fastest time for the 95-mile crossing, beating the record of five hours 20 minutes set by fellow Frenchman Manu Bertin in 2004.
It was announced on 7 May that kitesurfing - or kiteboarding - will replace windsurfing at the 2016 Games in Rio.
Sroka, from Brest, set off from Saint Quay Portrieux at about 10:00 BST on Thursday with a support boat as back-up in south-easterly winds.
The tide was running against the wind of up to 28 knots (32mph), creating swell up to 9ft (2.7m) high, he said.
"It was really hard, I had to concentrate so much," he said
"The most difficult thing was to stay in the same position for so long. My legs took the worst of the strain and now I can hardly walk."
Sroka, who is three times European course racing champion and has sailed round Cape Horn, added: "I wanted to promote kitesurfing as a serious sport - not just a beach sport - which is ready for the Olympic Games.
"It is a pity that windsurfing has gone from the Olympics - I am a windsurfer too - but kite surfing is a mixture of windsurfing, wake-boarding and sailing which matches the Olympic spirit of harmony."
He now hopes someone from Britain can attempt to beat his record.
Sir Richard Branson abandoned a bid to kite surf across the English Channel in 2010 after two attempts were scuppered by the weather.
Bruno Sroka, 36, arrived off Plymouth Sound after a four hour and 45 minute crossing from Saint Quay Portrieux in Brittany.
He is claiming the fastest time for the 95-mile crossing, beating the record of five hours 20 minutes set by fellow Frenchman Manu Bertin in 2004.
It was announced on 7 May that kitesurfing - or kiteboarding - will replace windsurfing at the 2016 Games in Rio.
Sroka, from Brest, set off from Saint Quay Portrieux at about 10:00 BST on Thursday with a support boat as back-up in south-easterly winds.
The tide was running against the wind of up to 28 knots (32mph), creating swell up to 9ft (2.7m) high, he said.
"It was really hard, I had to concentrate so much," he said
"The most difficult thing was to stay in the same position for so long. My legs took the worst of the strain and now I can hardly walk."
Sroka, who is three times European course racing champion and has sailed round Cape Horn, added: "I wanted to promote kitesurfing as a serious sport - not just a beach sport - which is ready for the Olympic Games.
"It is a pity that windsurfing has gone from the Olympics - I am a windsurfer too - but kite surfing is a mixture of windsurfing, wake-boarding and sailing which matches the Olympic spirit of harmony."
He now hopes someone from Britain can attempt to beat his record.
Sir Richard Branson abandoned a bid to kite surf across the English Channel in 2010 after two attempts were scuppered by the weather.
Thursday
Late snowfall boosts Scottish ski centres
Snowfall of up to 10cm on Scotland's mountains has raised hopes of an end-of-season boost for some of the country's snowsports centres.
Skiers and snowboarders have already been taking to the slopes in the Cairngorms, where the centre is expected to remain open until next week.
Elsewhere, bosses at the centres in Glencoe and the Nevis Range are hopeful of being able to open to the public this weekend.
The April snowfall will be seen by some businesses as a welcome bonus in a season which has seen limited skiing across much of Scotland over the last two months.
Colin Kirkwood, marketing manager of CairnGorm Mountain, said three tows were open at the centre today.
"We've had good conditions in a limited area," he said.
"We expect to remain open through the weekend and into next week. There's more snow forecast and snow has been falling intermittently in the course of today and temperatures are due to remain low.
"It has been a difficult year. We didn't ski at all in March, which is almost unheard of, so we're keen to let people know that we are open for business for skiing. There are still good opportunities. It's been a real bonus."
Matt Dobson - a senior forecaster at Meteogroup UK, the weather division of the Press Association - confirmed that snow of between five and 10cm fell on high ground above 500 metres last night and this morning.
Friday
Wirral Walking Scheme to be Extended
A popular walking scheme based on the Wirral peninsular, Merseyside is to be extended in 2012. The ever-popular Wirral Health Walks scheme is to be expanded to include a regular weekly walk. The scheme is aimed at those who currently take little or no exercise, offering walks for beginners and is part of the national Walking for Health scheme. This additional walk will begin in the picturesque town of West Kirby each Wednesday, starting at noon.
Get out and Get Active
According to Chris Meaden, Wirral Council’s cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism, January is an ideal time to effect a positive change in your lifestyle, and that by donning your outdoor clothing and getting active, you are heading in the right direction. “New Year is always a time when people start thinking about exercising off their festive excesses,” commented Meaden. “A decent walk is the best way to start exercising, especially for those who aren’t used to regular exercise.” There are a number of walks taking place across the borough, so there should be walks that are “local for everyone” confirmed Meaden.
Further Afield
The national Walking for Health scheme supports and operates a number of walking groups across the country. If you were looking to meet new people and get active, it would be a great idea to get in touch with your local scheme. All that is required is a robust set of footwear, appropriate outdoor clothing, and the determination to make a difference.
View our range of Jack Wolfskin Clothing at ChelstonDirect.com
Walking Good, Running Bad!
In a study conducted by scientists at the University of Loughborough, it has been found that whilst regular moderate exercise can help to boost the immune system, too much exercise can have the opposite effect. Professor Mike Gleeson has concluded that activity such as going for a good long walk can help to strengthen the body’s defences against such infections as the common cold, sinusitis and seasonal influenza. Too much exercise could be just as bad as too little for the immune system. According to Professor Gleeson, “different levels of exercise significantly increase or decrease the chances of catching an upper-respiratory tract infection.”
Activity Determines Susceptibility
Putting on your outdoor clothing and undertaking a “brisk walk” each day could “reduce your chance of catching a respiratory infection by up to a third” confirmed Professor Gleeson. If you are taking little or no exercise, you are likely to have an “average risk of catching an infection, typically two or three times a year.” It seems that these “couch potatoes” are just as at risk as marathon runners to catch a cold!
Moderation is the Key
Following prolonged periods of strenuous exercise, Gleeson found that the “likelihood of an individual becoming ill actually increases.” Directly following a marathon, people are between two and six times more likely to develop an upper respiratory infection. It is thought that the heavy training involved in preparing for a marathon suppresses the cells that fight infection, whilst moderate exercise boosts their performance.
Activity Determines Susceptibility
Putting on your outdoor clothing and undertaking a “brisk walk” each day could “reduce your chance of catching a respiratory infection by up to a third” confirmed Professor Gleeson. If you are taking little or no exercise, you are likely to have an “average risk of catching an infection, typically two or three times a year.” It seems that these “couch potatoes” are just as at risk as marathon runners to catch a cold!
Moderation is the Key
Following prolonged periods of strenuous exercise, Gleeson found that the “likelihood of an individual becoming ill actually increases.” Directly following a marathon, people are between two and six times more likely to develop an upper respiratory infection. It is thought that the heavy training involved in preparing for a marathon suppresses the cells that fight infection, whilst moderate exercise boosts their performance.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)