Football clubs to offer 'prehab' to cancer patients

The sessions will aim to boost people's health before treatment

Football clubs across Lancashire and South Cumbria are coming together in a special project to help people with cancer to prepare for treatment.

From January, it will see Football League teams offer free "prehab" training sessions to adult cancer patients with the goal of improving their health and fitness ahead of oncological care or surgery.

The programme will see clubs including Preston North End and Fleetwood Town hosting sessions to encourage people to be more active and offer a chance for social and mental wellbeing support.

Faye Bennett, from the local Cancer Alliance, which brings together key organisations in the area, said: “Pre-habilitation or preventative rehabilitation is well documented to improve quality of life for cancer patients and patient outcomes.”

The one-year programme, which will be supported by the NHS, will have sessions which consist of group exercise for the first half, while the second half will be a chance to sit down for a cup of tea and a chat with support staff and fellow patients.

'Connection and friendships'

Susan Saul, clinical lead physiotherapist for pre-habilitation at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, said: “Proven benefits of increasing fitness and optimising health ahead of surgery can include reduced side effects of treatment, a reduced risk of complications, shorter length of stay and a quicker recovery."

The teams involved, Accrington Stanley, Barrow, Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, Burnley, Fleetwood Town, Morecambe and Preston North End, have all collaborated for the project.

John Hartley, chief executive officer at Fleetwood Town Community Trust, said: "The physical health benefits our sessions will provide are vitally important. However, the group also becomes a safe space for connection and friendships to blossom at some of the most difficult times imaginable.”

Patients aged 18 and over will be able to self-refer on to the sessions and medical staff will also be given the details to refer people.

Emmanuel Angelo, community engagement officer at Barrow AFC Community Foundation, said: "With this programme, we aim to empower others to take control of their health journey and improve recovery outcomes.”