Rosie’s Story

Rosie Slocombe competing in the Alcester parkrun. Remember parkruns ? This week we start with a heartwarming article from Kate Sergent about her inspirational daughter Rosie. It is a story of the importance of our club in Rosie's life, it is a story about the huge benefits to both her physical and mental wellbeing that running gives her and it is a story about the lift given to her by Sarah Bland's Monday evening track sessions. I think it is truly uplifting but maybe I'm biased as they are both mates. There is also Team Manager John Raby's report on the superb performance of the club in finishing 25th out of 128 clubs who competed in the first round of the England Athletics Virtual 5 mile national really competition. The club now progresses to the next round. A huge thank you to both Kate and John. Without reports like theirs the newsletter would struggle to continue as it relies hugely on articles from you, the subscribers. Finally, after last week's unprecedented almost 3 pages of coverage on our club in The Stratford Herald, they contacted to ask if we could supply a fitness plan for their readers to follow. Rob Minton was able to provided them with such a plan, which is printed in full in this week's Herald and is reproduced below. Next week we should have a comprehensive report on last Friday's successful Zoom Annual Awards for Senior Members Take Care Best Wishes David Jones. Rosie with Martyn and Kate Sergent at the Great North Run. My Rosie By Kate Sergent After reading the brilliant article in our club newsletter regarding the mental health of our club members it has prompted me to write a little something about my daughter Rosie Slocombe. Rosie joined the club last year having moved back to her home area after living in supported living in Somerset for 15 years. She was living with us waiting for a house to become available and she used to come to the track sessions with me. Rosie has learning difficulties and Epilepsy, luckily controlled with medication. She has always loved the outdoors, working with horses and other animals and she loves exercising, so lockdown has been a huge challenge. Rosie has run the Stratford half marathon at leat 8 times, always with one of my wonderful running club friends who offer to go with her. Two years ago she completed the Great North Run with Martyn and myself raising over £1000 for Epilepsy research. The sense of achievement she feels when running is amazing. She loves going to the track on a Monday evening and joining in Sarah Bland's session, so when it had to stop, along with her voluntary work, she became really low. I managed to find a friend ( someone who taught me to run years ago and introduced me to SAC ) who was willing to take her out weekly and work towards her doing the virtual Alcester 10k. Her mental and…