Dodgeball tournament teaches students about heart health

Students from Sandbrook Primary School won the tournament

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Students from four Rochdale schools celebrated National Heart Month by competing in an Ultimate Dodgeball Tournament to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Competitors from Alkrington, Lowerplace, Sandbrook and St. Peter’s CE primary schools gathered at the Kingsway Park Sports Centre and Athletics Arena to raise awareness about heart and circulatory disease and the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle.

Students from Sandbrook Primary School won the tournament and were awarded medals by members of Rochdale’s Transpennine Cycling Club and the Link4Life Community Coaching team, who co-ordinated the competition.

The event was developed as part of a Healthy Schools initiative funded by NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale to improve the health and wellbeing of children in schools.

“We’re proud of all of the students who competed in the BHF Ultimate Dodgeball Tournament and are excited to have the opportunity to teach them about heart health,” said Jonathan Hayhurst, Link4Life Sports Programmes Co-ordinator. “Developing healthy lifestyle habits early is key to reducing the risk of heart disease in our community.”

Shirley McNally, BHF Fundraising and Volunteer Manager in Greater Manchester added: “Heart and circulatory disease is the UK’s biggest killer and on average, 308 people die in Rochdale from heart disease every year. We appreciate the support that these students and members of the Rochdale community are providing to help us continue our lifesaving work.”

After congratulating the winning team on their victory, members of the Transpennine Cycling Club officially announced that the “David Geldard Over the Edge Bike Ride” would take place in Rochdale on 20 May. This popular annual cycling event has raised over £140,000 for BHF and has been renamed this year in memory of former club president and Rochdale Man of the Millennium, David Geldard, who was a survivor of heart disease and an avid local cyclist.

To register, or for more information about the event, visit the Transpennine Cycling Club website at www.transpenninecc.com.