Story: Lisa Swift & Rohan Francis
Ten years ago, a group of African and African- Caribbean middle-aged men came up with an ambitious idea to get 100 black men in Sheffield walking for health. A decade on, the group is continuing with these health walks in green spaces in Sheffield and the wider countryside.
An original member of the group, Donald Mclean, the Vice- Principal at Longley Sixth Form College, said:
“It was a grand idea, really. We wanted to improve the health of black men. It came about because we had all reached middle age and we knew we needed to start looking after our health. Since then, we've done 11 walks per year: that's 110 walks. I've only missed 8!”
Maxwell Ayamba, of locally-based SHEBEEN (Sheffield Black and Ethnic Minority Environmental Network) was also involved from the start:
"African and African Caribbean men are more likely than other groups to suffer from conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure but many men, as they get older, can't make time for exercise. Walking is one of the best forms of exercise as it uses the whole body. It is also good for mental health, especially when you are out in the countryside.”
Pitsmoor Dental Health's Kweku Ackom-Mensah, (known to everyone as Q), has been right behind the ambitious project for 10 years:
“We got to know a lot of people through the walk. We talk about everything while we walk. I'm not a young man anymore and the doctor was telling me to look after myself, to be careful of my blood pressure, so I thought this was a fantastic way to do that. My doctor says it's made me healthier.”
Another founding member, Mark Hutchinson, said:
“We usually start at Endcliffe Park but we go all over: Stanage, Five Weirs walk, Longshaw Estate and places in the Peak District. From childhood, we used to go for walks and this has always given me a sense of identity, that this is my land and we are free to walk where we want to walk.”
The group will be celebrating their 10-year anniversary at Sheffield Hallam University and want to encourage new members to join. Lloyd Greaves joined the group 3 years ago and says:
“It's been fabulous. You get to see what you don't normally see, it broadens your horizons.”
Another recent member of the group is local filmmaker Jenson Grant, who said:
“I've been involved for about a year and a half. It's really helped me to explore the city. I've been in Sheffield since 1994 but I'm only now getting to really know it. We've explored the industrial side of Sheffield as well as the countryside. It's walking to discover.”
100 Black Men Walk for Health group will be celebrating their 10th anniversary on 7th June, if you would like to be involved contact Maxwell Ayamba on 07791 614 433. While the group particularly encourages BME men to get walking, the group is open to anyone.