Cancer patients to be offered free rowing sessions
Tees Rowing ClubCancer patients on Teesside are to be offered free rowing lessons before they undergo treatment.
Tees Rowing Club has been given a grant of about £10,000 to provide sessions aimed at improving cancer patients' physical and mental wellbeing. Researchers at the University of Durham will study the effects of the initiative.
Rower Gillian Bentley said the Tees was "a super river" on which people could "get totally immersed in nature" while keeping healthy. She said this included "spotting otters, seals, and all kinds of birds".
Bentley said rowing was a non-load-bearing sport in which people could "go at their own pace" with the club offering different types of boats for a range of abilities.
The funding, which was awarded by the NHS's Northern Cancer Alliance and charity Point North, will provide patients with free membership of the rowing club for six months and social time for refreshments after activity.
"The aim is to help patients recently diagnosed with cancer cope better with subsequent treatments," the club said.
Bentley said the Tees was "super river, once you're beyond Stockton you can be totally immersed in nature".
Tees Rowing Club"You can row great distances without any obstacles on the Tees," she continued.
"Durham's rowing club were the first club to get this kind of funding and they reported great benefits."
The club said university researchers would use questionnaires and simple strength exercises to measure patients' physical and mental wellbeing.
"We are hoping patients would like to participate in this research," Bentley said.
Bentley, who is in her 60s, said rowing had been "transformational" for her.
"I've made a bunch of friends with different ages - it's all about having fun," she added.