Squash impact for epilepsy sufferers

Luke Broadbent (foreground) with Epilepsy BOP support trusts Toni Davis and Brian Barnett. Photo/Andrew Warner

The benefits of exercise are well known in helping people fight back from health issues.

Epilepsy BOP Support Trust is using generous support from the Mount Maunganui Squash Club to give epilepsy sufferers an opportunity to play the game.

Trust president Toni Bell speaks from experience about the benefits of sport for epilepsy sufferers.

"Our 8-year-old son is an epileptic born with the condition, and he is a very active child normally anyway," she said.

"For us it is important that he maintains exercise because when you have blood moving through the body it just helps the body to function better and your state of mind is good."

"Another example is Clinton, who has come along today."

"He is 39, born with the condition, and he wants to live an independent life. He is trying to do that and for him exercise is a good outlet."

"With the condition, you can either take it one of two ways. You can either accept it as part of who you are and arrange your life accordingly, or struggle with it."

"Sport definitely has a positive impact."

Brian Barrett, the marketing and funding manager for Epilepsy Foundation NZ, came from Auckland to help promote the day.

"The purpose of today is to give people who have epilepsy an opportunity to come out in public and do something," he said. "The role of this trust, and all the others we are setting up, is to have people get out of their houses and get involved with physical activities."

Barrett is a former New Zealand squash champion and coach of the Czech Republic, who worked with Taurangas Dame Susan Devoy during her professional career.

Using squash to help increase physical activity and awareness for epilepsy is the perfect mix for Barrett.

"We did some tests and pilot programmes at Waikato University with 15 people and we recognised there was incredible joy for these people working out at the gym. So it is about physical fitness but also getting them into a different state of mind of enjoyment and being socially involved."

Epilepsy BOP Support Trust have three more fun days at the Mount Squash Club, based at Blake Park. To be involved email toni.bell@hotmail.com or brian@epilepsyfoundation.org.nz.