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SAINTS’ stars Sia Soliola and Gary Wheeler have lent the weight of their support to the ambitions of NHS Halton & St Helens to improve the health and well being of its communities.

During a visit to Sherdley Medical Centre in St Helens the duo underwent a free health check and was put through his paces to mark national Men’s Health Week.

Demonstrating their commitment to this nationwide campaign to improve the physical and mental health and well being of men throughout the area, the pair echoed the PCT’s ambition to reduce levels of obesity by improving the diet and physical activity levels of its residents.

This year, Men’s Health Week (June 14-20), ties in with the organisation’s ambitions and there has been local, regional and national attention focusing on efforts to:

Encourage more men to become more physically active.
To improver male participation in sport.
To develop the potential of sports settings for delivering health services and campaigns to men.

Locally, there has been significant support for all these activities and during the past year NHS Halton & St Helens, the Saints and Widnes Vikings have organised sporting activities at the two clubs’ main stadia.

This work will be further progressed during the next year in a bid to improve not only the physical and mental health of its men but its women and children too.

“It is important the NHS works closely with sporting organisations to improve access to physical activity for our populations,” said Fiona Johnstone Director of Public Health with NHS Halton & St Helens. “We have seen an increasing number of people take advantage of the sessions organised by ourselves and our rugby league clubs to date and we intend to build on this success in the future.

“Men’s Health Week provides us with an ideal opportunity to highlight the health benefits physical activity offers to our population. Not only will people feel fitter and leaner their mental health and well being will improve also.

“Rugby League players like Sia and Gary are fantastic role models for our communities and we are delighted they are supporting our work and ambitions for our population.”

You can watch a special edition of Saints TV with Sia and Gary here.

Community

Soliola and Wheeler Support Health Week