Initiative before match raises health awareness
, for staging a blood pressure testing event.Siobhain McDonaghAFC Wimbledon has received high praise from Mitcham & Morden MP,
, were tested at the Cherry Red Records Stadium before Saturday’s Burton match as part of this year’s National Blood Pressure Testing Awareness week.Alan Bennett and Neal ArdleyA total of 77 people, including Siobhain,
Siobhain, along with Wimbledon’s manager and captain, all scored favourable blood pressure readings and the author of this article, rather surprisingly, had a rate of 120/80 mmHg, described as “excellent” by NHS Live Well members.
However, the day was all about spreading awareness among supporters and Siobhain, who is a Dons fan, praised AFC Wimbledon for taking part in the initiative.
“It is absolutely brilliant that the club are doing this because some men do not take care of their health in the same way that women do,” said Siobhain. “This event offers people a chance to have their blood tested quickly, rather than making a booking with a GP and having to wait. I am sure there will have been supporters that were not aware that they had high blood pressure, but this may now give them a nudge to do something about it.
“It is important to spread the word among people to get their health checked out and congratulations must go to AFC Wimbledon for running this event.”
AFC Wimbledon’s award-winning Community Football Scheme (CFS) helped organise the “Know Your Numbers” event.
to access this website.Your Health Supporters with high blood pressure were given leaflets, advised to see a GP and were told that they can visit the NHS Live Well website for more information. Click on
One in three adults (16 million) in the UK have high blood pressure, but five million people don’t know that they have it and the condition increases the risk of heart disease and the probability of having a stroke.
Our gallery of pictures (photographs by Zoe Linkson) shows Neal Ardley and Alan Bennett getting checked out.