Fan finds hobby to raise money
Wigan fan Peter Elliott can be spotted every week on the terraces cheering on his beloved Warriors, well he is now getting in on the action in order to help raise funds for the Wigan Warriors Community Foundation.
Peter attends all matches home and away with his wife Karen, and he always loves to get involved in Club fundraising activities, as well as being a regular attendee at the Rugby Memories and Moving Memories sessions.
Peter has recently been on a health kick programme and has managed to lose a staggering five stone in weight. He has been bitten by the running bug and has now decided to put that newfound hobby to good use by raising money for the WWCF by entering the Wigan 10K.
Here he goes into detail about his weight loss and why he has chosen to support the Foundation.
He said: “It was back in February 2020, I was massively overweight. I weighed 18 stone and was a horrible shape (I didn’t realise about the shape at the time). I felt it was time to take action. I knew that I’d need support and motivation, so I joined a local slimming group.
“I learned how to eat healthier and set myself a target of a five stone weight loss. Four weeks later, the first lockdown came. A good thing or a bad thing for someone whose dieting? Well for me it was both good and bad. Those of you who know us, know that we have a good social life, so lockdown stopped us from going out for meals etc, but it also meant that we weren’t as active.
“At the end of June, I’d stuck to the diet plan, and it was working. I’d lost approximately three stone and was feeling better in myself, both physically and mentally. I knew of a few people who had started the ‘Couch to 5K’ running programme. I’d spent the last two weeks trying to convince myself that maybe I could do it. Bearing in mind I’d done no proper exercise since I was about 20.
“So, at 57 I bit the bullet, downloaded the app and got my shorts and trainers on. I’ll never forget the first run of the programme. Run for 60 seconds and then walk for 60 seconds and repeat these another seven times. That’s when I realised how unfit I was. Who’d have thought that running for 60 seconds could be so hard. I thought I was dying. Thank goodness for the rest days in-between runs.
“Again, I stuck with it and ran every other day. By week three of the programme, I’d actually started to enjoy running (it was still hard work though). After eight weeks of running, I completed the programme. I could now run for 30 minutes without stopping. Who was I? What had I become?
“I’d finished the programme; how do I keep motivated to carry on running? It was now the end of August and I signed up for the Virtual Wigan 10K. Something to aim for, something to focus on. I continued to run and went a little further each time. In October, I completed my first 10K. What a feeling, from struggling with a 60 second run at the end of June to running a 10K in October. I’d also now lost another two stone so had reached my target weight of 13 stone, and my shape was much better.
“I continued to run and signed up for a few more charity runs, including an 8.5 mile run and a virtual half marathon (I still don’t know to this day how I managed that). It was a win, win situation, it kept me motivated and supported charities.
“That’s when Claire Taylor – community health and wellbeing manager at WWCF – came in and asked me, did I fancy running the Wigan 10K to help raise funds for the Community Foundation. We’d been attending Rugby Memories and Moving Memories for approximately 18 months. This is running and funded by the Foundation, so we saw first-hand some of the things that the Foundation does to support various groups in the community.
“The two groups that we attend support people living with dementia and their families. It genuinely gives me a buzz to see the group smiling and so happy as they join in with the activities. Even during lockdown, everyone kept in contact via Zoom, not the same, but the people who have now become our friends where still benefitting and getting enjoyment from the online activities that the Foundation provided.
“The groups are back live now and there is genuine happiness among everyone in the group. Everyone appreciates what the Foundation does, but not everyone realises that it’s a charity. So, in answer to Claire’s question earlier. Yes, I’m running the Wigan 10K this year to support them.
“I see people getting so much from the Foundation, that I wanted to give something back. So, if you’re in Wigan for the 10K look out for our group of runners and cheer us on the finish line.”
The image first image above shows Peter with his wife Karen who has MS. Karen will also be taking part in the 10K; one member of The Riversiders Supporters Club will be pushing her around the course. The Wigan 10K takes places on Sunday 5th September.
If you would like to donate to Peter’s fundraising efforts, click HERE to head to his JustGiving page.
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The biggest derby in Rugby League will take place on Friday 20th August at the DW Stadium. Don’t miss out and get your tickets now! Buy online by clicking HERE or call the DW Stadium Ticket Office on 01942 311111 (9am-5pm Mon-Fri).
