RIGHT: Cathal Geraghty, Cork Sports Partnership, Lisa Sheehan, Team Leader with Coolmine, Mark Wright, Recovery Academy Cork, and Paul O’Leary, General Manager of Mayfield Sports Complex at the launch of a physical activity programme to support people going through recovery.

Eight week programme for people in recovery

By Geraldine Fitzgerald

When people stop a habit that has had a negative impact on their lives such as drugs, alcohol or harmful addictions of any kind, they are considered to be in recovery.

Replacing harmful behaviours with healthy, positive ones is often the key to successful maintenance of the recovery they’ve worked so hard to achieve.

Cork Sports Partnership (CSP) have teamed up with the Mayfield Sports Complex, the Recovery Academy Cork and Coolmine Community Drug and Alcohol Services to roll out an eight-week physical activity programme to support people going through recovery.

CSP Community Sports Officer Cathal Geraghty said the goal of the programme “is to support people in recovery to become active and improve their health in a fun and sociable environment”.

Lisa Sheehan, Team Leader with Coolmine said: “Everyone should have the opportunity to overcome addiction and lead a fulfilled and productive life. Being part of a collaboration that will improve physical, cognitive and emotional wellbeing of people in recovery is part of the whole person approach undertaken by Coolmine and we are delighted to be involved.”

Paul O’Leary General Manager of the Mayfield Sports Complex and his staff will deliver the programme.

Paul said: “We’re delighted to provide our facility for this incredible programme and collaborate with all involved. It is going to benefit these people so very much and our trainers are really excited about delivering the modules over the coming weeks. We will be helping them to push their physical fitness levels as well as understand how to use equipment found in gyms and fitness centers.”

The Recovery Academy Ireland is a forum which promotes recovery, provides support, raises awareness, challenges stigma, advocates on policy, provides workshops and training and organises pro-social recovery activities such as pop-up cafes, health and fitness programmes, recovery walks and many more.

Recovery Academy Coordinator Mark Wright said: “Recovery is to be enjoyed, not endured, and programmes like this help the process. Our clients are excited about taking part”.

For more information on this physical Activity programme or physical activity opportunities across Cork visit corksports.ie or call Cathal Geraghty, Community Sports Development Officer, with Cork Sports Partnership at 086-1451381.