This month saw University colleagues and students supporting Sheffield Children’s Hospital’s annual Do It For You event. The event, held at the English Institute of Sport (EIS), is an activity day for children and young people who have received treatment for cancer or a bone marrow transplant at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. A key aim of the day is to encourage and educate on the benefits of exercise and activity in children with cancer.
Over fifty families attended this year’s event, with physiotherapy students from Hallam volunteering to run the 0-5 children’s area. Our students worked together to organise and deliver activities, such as parachute games, obstacle courses, mini football, trampette games . . . and lots of balloons!
A big thank you to all our Hallam volunteers
Kimberly Palmer (physiotherapy lecturer and admissions team) supported the students on the day, assisting with general organisation, setting up, and running the games. Speaking about the event, Kimberley said: “The event is important to me as we have lots of evidence for why exercise is important in childhood cancer. This includes evidence on how exercise improves fatigue levels, muscular strength, endurance, quality of life, psychological health and body composition. We also have evidence to indicate that exercise can reduce the likelihood of cancer recurrence in adults.
“The evidence we have probably isn’t as ‘advertised’ in the media and to the general public as the other effects of childhood cancer. As a parent, I think if I didn’t know these benefits, I would just spend my time caring and cuddling my boy after the hospital appointments and feeling unwell that comes with treatment of cancer.
Volunteers from Hallam made a fantastic contribution to the day
“The Do It For You event at EIS is there to say . . . Hey, we got through this together. Let’s have fun and learn some new activities and sports . . . with the view that the children involved will go on to lead healthy and active lifestyles.
“The students were excellent on the day. They really got involved and supported all the volunteers at the event. A brilliant job was done in adapting games and activities to include both children in wheelchairs and children with feeding tubes.”
