The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has published the government's new sport strategy, 'Get Active: A strategy for the future of sport and physical activity'. Read More »

I've always loved sport and was looking for something new, particularly a team sport, been a hockey player in the past, tennis lately and now football with this new inspiring bunch of people. Saw it on the Leisure Centre TV screen, couldn't believe it was open to all ages 40 plus to 100... Read More »

Having watched my Mum's health decline over the years (she has dementia) and leaving my full time teaching role, I wanted to make sure I could keep my mind and body active and improve my fitness and wellbeing. Read More »

I had a relapse after 'sailing through' (both my Surgeon and Oncologist used this term) - a double Masectomy , 6 months Chemo, 3 weeks Radiotherapy (that damaged my trachea), settling into a 5yr Tamoxifen plan + a 2yr Abermarciclib (Chemo drug) plan. I'm 1 year into the drugs cycle. Read More »

At Christmas I decided to set myself a challenge for the year I turn 50. So, between January 1st and December 31st I'm aiming to swim in 50 different outdoor locations. Already these have been hugely varied, and range from an endless pool in a friend's back garden to the stunning Lake Windermere, and from waterfalls pools in streams in the Lake District to a Victorian tidal sea pool in Devon last week. Read More »

I imagine that my exercising story starts the way that most women's does. I was quite an active child, did some gymnastics, enjoyed PE at school but then I wen to university and got a bit lazy…with the exception of walking back from bars at night. Read More »

"I was born with a condition that means that my digestive system isn't able to move the food I eat through my system without medical intervention. However, it took many years, and I was well into my 20's, before doctors were able to identify what was wrong with me. This means I spent over 20 years in and out of hospital, and meant I spent all my time focusing on all the things my body could not do. Due to my condition, I thought physical activity in general was just not for me. I rarely had energy to go about my day-to-day activities due to malabsorption, so being physically active just wasn't going to happen. Then, in 2014 I was fitted with a trial device that doctors hoped would assist my digestive system on a long-term basis. It was life changing!

After the initial recovery period, I found that I had all this energy I'd never had before and I wanted to get fitter, meet people, and make friends. A colleague recommended parkrun and dragged me along (not literally) to my first parkrun in 2016. I didn't think of myself as someone who could run and the idea of running 5km seemed impossible. I alternated between walking and running and made it around my first parkrun. I thought I'd be right at the back and would come in last place, but with the tail walkers that didn't happen. Everyone was really welcoming and friendly, and I got the parkrun bug!

These days, I am part of the parkrun family. I have been going to parkrun most weekends since. I have even done an international parkrun whilst on holiday in Italy. I found over time that I was getting faster, making friends and I even hit some pretty awesome milestones (I'm currently approaching my 200th parkrun).
Then, I joined a running club! I know, I'm as surprised as you are. The girl who couldn't run, became the girl that could run. And now she runs a lot. I now occasionally lead groups of runners for Shinfield Running Club and try to encourage and welcome new runners to our friendly, non-competitive running club. Running has had a great impact on my mental and emotional wellbeing as well. I do a very stressful job and I see being active as being as much about my mental health as it is about my physical health.

Now, I spend my time running, bouldering, and paddle boarding. I also occasionally go to the gym. I have even done a local SUPathlon the last few years (don't worry if you don't know what that is, no one ever does – it is a 1km paddle board race, followed by a 5km running race – like a duathlon, but with paddle boarding)."

If you want to join us in inspiring more women and girls in Berkshire to get active, share your story and why YOU love to be active with us at info@getberkshireactive.org. We're even giving away This Girl Can activewear to a few people who share their journey!