Foxes Duo Launch New Gym Equipment
- Patson Daka and Harry Souttar unveil new multi-gym equipment at Glenfield Hospital
- The multi-gym was funded by The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation
- Bradgate Mental Health Unit supports 150 inpatients
Funded by The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation, Daka and Souttar were joined by Club Ambassador Alan Birchenall at the equipment’s unveiling – designed to help mental health patients improve their physical wellbeing.
The VS Foundation, set up in memory of the Club’s late Chairman, donated most of the £5,000 for the multi-gym, giving Bradgate’s 150 inpatients new options to get or keep fit as part of their mental health recovery.
Run by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT), supervised sessions for the multi-gym offers a series of weight-based exercises to complement the facility’s existing treadmills, cycling and rowing machines.
“This is an amazing facility," Daka said. "The staff here do things that make a huge difference to people’s lives.
“Everyone needs to take care of their physical and mental health. Coming here has been an eye-opener for me. It’s been nice to speak to the staff and service users and to have conversations with them about how the unit supports people.”
The VS Foundation is committed to giving back to the Leicestershire community by raising large sums of money for life-changing causes that have a real impact on the lives of those in need.
Money raised over the years has gone towards several important causes, including Leicester Hospitals Charity, LOROS, Rainbows Children’s Hospice and Leicestershire Children’s Holiday Centre.
Mark Shenton, Gym Instructor at the Bradgate Mental Health Unit, commented: “This is going to make a vast difference to our service users. Exercise is really important as it helps with emotional regulation, as well as motivation and confidence.
“The multi-gym will bring back a bit of normality to some people, helping them to keep their fitness levels up, something which can otherwise be more difficult to do if you are admitted into a mental health facility.”
The Bradgate also offers its patients a range of other options to improve their physical health, including supervised walks, Tai chi, low level circuits, stretch and get up and go sessions.
The multi-gym was funded by The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation and Raising Health, the charitable arm of Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust. The charity fundraises to support excellent care initiatives, equipment and innovations which go above and beyond core NHS provision to enhance the experience of our patients, service users and staff.