Walk and Talk: Pat shares the benefits of Walking for Health 08 November 2024 Pat shares the benefits he finds in joining a weekly Health Walk as part of our Walking for Health programme. Through our Health Walks, our vision is to support people to lead healthier lives through the delivery of friendly, accessible walks led by experienced walk leaders. “The walk has been a great way to do a bit more exercise, especially because you’re not on your own. I’ll be honest, I thought my athletic days were over!” Pat Clarkin is 59 and lives in Drumchapel, Glasgow. After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Pat took part in a Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland health check with Health Defence Coordinator, Gillian MacLeod at the local library and heard about the Walking for Health project, a joint venture between Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and the Health & Social Care Alliance Scotland. He has been a regular at the weekly walk since March 2024 and has seen his physical health and mental wellbeing improve. The Health & Social Care Alliance Scotland staff were able to help Pat access the Elevator course, a six-month course in Drumchapel and Yoker to help those dealing with issues such as long-term unemployment, physical disabilities and mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and stress. Pat said: “When I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, the doctor suggested I change my diet and do some exercise. I’m on benefits, so I don’t have the resources to change my diet radically. “But when I met Gillian from Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, she told me about the health walk. A weekly walk sounded good and like something that would be easy for me to do. “The walk has been a great way to do a bit more exercise, especially because you’re not on your own. I’ll be honest, I thought my athletic days were over! “I had high blood pressure, too, but that’s started to come down – as the doctor said, it’s going in the right direction. “I enjoy the walk. It just helps to be around people and have a laugh. I’m a bit of a wind-up merchant, so it’s great to meet lots of people. Even though it’s only an hour, it’s something to look forward to. “Years ago, when I was a teenager growing up in Anderston, I’d go out exploring the hills with my pals. We felt like we were the old guys in the Last of the Summer Wine! Now I’m doing that for real.” Pat also credits the Elevator course for helping him deal with financial pressures and job loss. He said: “I wasn’t just struggling physically at the start of the year, my mental health was suffering, too. I’d been on a zero hours contract with no benefits, and I was struggling financially. I was so worried I was going to lose my home. “It’s great to have support like this locally.” Check out whether there’s a Health Walk kicking off from a location near you. Health Walks If you’re living with the effects of a chest, heart or stroke condition or Long Covid and looking for advice and information, please contact Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland’s Advice Line on 0808 801 0899. You can also text NURSE to 66777 or email adviceline@chss.org.uk.