The Problem:

The Wigan area has high levels of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and sedentary lifestyles. Surveys within the area have shown that 42,000 people live with heart and circulatory disease, and 36% of adults fail to meet the physical activity recommendations. The Northwest records approximately 3600 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests annually, with a survival rate of only 1 in 13. This shows the urgent need for targeted interventions to improve heart health such as the Heart of the Leopards Programme.

The Project:

The Heart of the Leopards Programme is a free 12-week programme aimed at men aged 45–65-year-olds in the Wigan area. This project targets individuals with a BMI over 28, pre-diabetes, high cholesterol and/or high blood pressure. They will run healthy lifestyle workshops followed by fun exercise sessions to help beneficiaries to improve their physical well-being and to adopt a healthier, more active lifestyle. Sessions will be held weekly at the LSV Stadium, home of Leigh Leopards, and will include workshops on creating healthy eating plans, alcohol intake and smoking cessation and understanding food labels alongside physical activity sessions of the participant’s choice. By providing a supportive and engaging environment, the Heart of the Leopards Programme will help participants make lasting changes to their health and wellbeing, ultimately reducing cardiovascular risks and improving overall quality of life.

The Benefits:

This project aims to improve physical wellbeing by encouraging healthier lifestyle choices to manage and reduce cardiovascular risks. The Heart of the Leopards Programme will measure beneficiaries’ body mass index, weight, blood pressure, basal metabolic rate and cholesterol levels pre, mid and post-project. This project will benefit those participating by improving physical wellbeing, promoting heart health, and reducing cholesterol and high blood pressure. By combining educational workshops with engaging physical activities, they aim to equip participants with the knowledge, skills and support needed to make lasting changes towards better heart health.