Girls encouraged to get fighting fit

With obesity on the rise, women nationwide are failing to meet the recommended levels of exercise but local charity, Rampworx, is aiming to combat this.

According to an NHS survey, 41% of women were reported to have gained inches to their waist in 2007, and merely 28% of women are meeting the minimum recommended amount of weekly exercise.

With issues with weight linking to both physical and mental health problems, several organisations, including Birkenhead-based Rampworx, are aiming to get girls into regular exercise. They are encouraging local ladies into extreme sports, such as rollerblading, skateboarding and bmx-ing through an event aptly named ‘Ladies Day’.

On Friday February 19th, girls will be welcomed into the park and encouraged to join in with lessons for beginners, street dance and live music. Several sports women will be attending the event, in a bid to raise awareness of the importance of regular exercise.

Last year, the skatepark managed to get 400 girls through their doors, and involved in sports to some degree during the event. They hope that this year will be even bigger.

Rampworx volunteer, Paul Perry, 23, said: “The girls are introduced to the sports by qualified coaches, and are skating with people their own ages. I think that girls can be intimidated by a predominantly male sport, so they’re more inclined to want to do it if they are taught by other girls who are doing it professionally.”

Several organisations, including Liverpool City Council, are running other similar schemes in a bid to improve the nation’s fitness levels as a whole.

JMU student, Sophie Crowther, 20, said: “Facilities and schemes and stuff are great, but there’s a degree of self motivation needed. With regards to women’s fitness, the benefits should be promoted more to motivate them.”