Donegal-based non-profit organisation No Barriers is urging people to join a fun online fitness challenge to help local people with disabilities stay active at home.
The Armathon invites volunteers to simply raise their arms to raise funds.
Every person who takes part is asked to donate to help the No Barriers Foundation strengthen their services and purchase home exercise equipment for members who have switched to training online this summer.
Donations can be made online at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/no-barriers-armathon
All money raised will be used to buy exercise equipment for people with spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, MS, traumatic brain injury and stroke to improve their strength at home.
The arm raise is a typical exercise in a No Barriers group class, where many exercisers are wheelchair users.
The No Barriers Foundation is a non-profit organisation that breaks down barriers to exercise and physical activity.
The team of physiotherapists and experienced health professionals works from an inclusive gym in Letterkenny to help anyone with a disability to get fitter and stronger – improving both their physical and mental health. Up to 50 people with various conditions are availing of the services from across the north west.
The Covid-19 pandemic has put No Barriers’ one to one and group gym sessions on hold, but many members have continued making progress at home via online exercise classes.
A donation of just €10 will help No Barriers purchase a resistance band and weights for one member. When face-to-face services resume, the equipment will be made available for people to build on their strength and mobility in their own time.
Stephen McNally, Lead Physiotherapist at No Barriers said: “Over the last three months our exercisers have amazed us with their training efforts during lockdown. They are really going above and beyond by joining the online classes. But we are limited because of a lack of availability of equipment.
“If we had additional equipment it will allow for more variety in the class and will allow people to progress by using weights. We can then look at increasing strength of upper limbs and helping everyone make more progress over time.
“We have been missing the fun and engagement of our group classes, but until we can get back into the gym we need supporters to join the Armathon Challenge and help our exercisers embrace tele-rehab.
“For people with spinal cord injury and other conditions, exercise is more than just fun—it’s a form of medicine that can be a powerful tool for preventing and treating many health conditions.”
If you want to help No Barriers break down the barriers that Covid-19 presents, please support the Armathon.
Donate to the cause on: https://www.gofundme.com/f/no-barriers-armathon
Find out more by visiting the No Barriers Foundation Facebook page @thenobarriersfoundation or NoBarriers.ie
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