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Advocating Physical Exercise (APEx) Group

1st Annual APEx 4 Mile Road Race

Celebrating World Mental Health Day 2010
Sunday, 10 October 2010 at 11.00am

ENTRY FORM

Name: 

Address: 

Postcode:

Tel:

E-mail: 

Male       Female  (Please Circle)

Date of Birth:        /     /                  Age on day of race

Claiming benefits:         Yes          No    (Please Circle: see below for more details)

If you are taking part with a child (12-16) please state full name(s) and DOB for each child below:

Name(s)                                                      Date(s) of Birth   

      

Entry fees are £10. Any participant who is in receipt of benefits on the day of the race the entry fee is £4. Donations can be given on the same cheque as your entry fee. No charge to children 16 or under. Please check your details and make cheques payable to: Advocacy in Wirral  

Declaration
I have read the Rules and additional information (see below) and agree to abide by them. I also state that I am entering this race of my own accord and that I am fit and able to do so. The race organiser, sponsors or other bodies will not be held liable for any injuries/illnesses that may occur during or after taking part in the APEx four mile road race.        

Signature:                                                               Date:

Send entries to:       Matthew Williams, Advocacy in Wirral
                            68 – 74 Woodside Business Park
                            Shore Road, Birkenhead,  CH41 1EL

Donations: APEx is dedicated to supporting people suffering from mental health issues and strives to improve the mental wellbeing of its members . We are not a profit making club and rely on fund raisers like this or donations from the public. Please help us continue our activities and put on more events  by making a donation along with your entry fee. Thank you for your support.

 Donation Amount - £   

Please do not send cash in the post if possible.

Thank you for entering the APEx 4 Mile Road Race. Please complete and return page one along with a cheque for your entry fee and/or donations. Ensure you have signed the entry form. Please keep a copy of the Race Information and Rules for your own reference  

Race information and Rules

  1. The APEx 4 mile road race will begin on Sunday 10th October 2010 at 11:00am It is suggested runners make their way to the start line at 10:55am
  2. Postage entries for this event close 7 days (3 October 2010) before the event. Please ensure you have sent your entry before this date with time to ensure your number arrives in the post. We advise sending entries no later than 10 days (1 October 2010) before the event.
  3. Participants must use the car park at the top of Leasowe Road and next to Leasowe Lighthouse where possible. Course maps showing parking are available on www.aiw.org.uk.
  4. Race limit is 200 participants. Entries will be accepted on a first come first served basis.
  5. Limited entries may be available on the day if race limit (200) has not been reached. It is strongly advised you enter prior to the day of the event. Entries on the day must be completed 15 minutes (10:45am) before the start of the run. Availability of entry on the day will be indicated on the Advocacy website (www.aiw.org.uk) prior to the event.
  6. Medals will be available on completion of the race. Please note that there will be limited numbers of these so it will be one medal per runner.
  7. Please note that the organisers cannot be held responsible for cancellation of the event due to weather, therefore no refunds will be offered. If this should occur the decision will be made on the day by the events safety coordinator and his decision is final. Cancelled races will be re-scheduled where possible and stated on www.aiw.org.uk
  8. Any children (12-16) taking part must be accompanied by a paid and participating adult.
  9. Children under the age of 12 are not permitted to take part in the APEx 4 Mile Road Race.
  10. APEx offers a reduced entry fee for people on benefits in order to ensure no one is excluded from taking part in the APEx 4 Mile Road Race. We would remind people that this is a charity event so would ask that you only claim this reduced fee if you actually claim benefits (please be honest).

    Race numbers and any additional information will be posted prior to the event. You will not receive any notification until your race number arrives by post before the event.
    If you have any enquiries regarding this event please contact the Events Organiser Matt on:
    Tel: 0151 650 1530 / 0787 180 8885             Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

 

APEx Fundraising


It’s been a busy month of fundraising for APEx. With October 10th  coming up and APEx still getting ready for the APEx Four Mile Road Race celebrating World Mental Health Day 2010, funding has become a priority if this event is going to come off. To set the ball rolling Advocacy CEO Chris Shaw and APEx member Darren Jones have been taking part in fundraising events.

On Saturday 31 July Chris took part in the Cross Mersey Swim. Starting at the Echo Arena, Chris had to brave the currents and dodge the Mersey shipping lane in order to make it over to Birkenhead. Although a bit slower than last year, the currents more than made up for this, allowing Chris to come out the water and finish this years Cross Mersey Swim strongly.

Darren took a slightly different route than Chris and decided to rise above the water, literally. Again on 31 July, Darren took part in the Leasowe Lighthouse abseil, which sent participants down the 101ft lighthouse in the windy conditions next to Leasowe promenade. Looking up at the lighthouse is bad enough - we can only imagine how high it must feel when you are up there!   Despite this, Darren still wanted another go when he got to the bottom!   There's always next time, Darren!

Thanks to Darren and Chris we have managed to raise over £600 for APEx, which will go a long way to meeting the costs of the 10 October event. Well done to both, and we look forward to the next fundraiser, which is sure to be just as fun.

For more information on APEx please contact Matt (Activities Coordinator) on:

Tel: 0151 650 1530 or 0787 180 8885
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

Cross Mersey Swim 31 July 2010

Advocacy CEO Chris Shaw will be jumping in at the deep end to take part in the 2010 Cross Mersey Swim.

Starting at the Echo Arena and finishing in Birkenhead, Chris will brave the (hopefully not too)  cold waters to raise money for Advocating Physical Exercise (APEx).

Please sponsor Chris and help raise as much money as we can!

If you'd like to support Chris please visit fundraising page at Just Giving.

 

Chris Shaw on APEx

I cannot help but see this as my 'pet project', as my passions in mental health are advocating the dramatic benefits of regular (group) exercise upon mental health and introducing new folk (and returners) to the life-changing benefits of physical wellbeing activities.

Back in 2005 – after  first starting work for AiW – I realised how easy it would be to add exercise and peer support groups to our services, using personal experiences from how I’ve maintained my own mental health through regular exercise.  I also knew (from having managed a Mind Community resource) that Peer Support Groups would be a great benefit to our Service Users and (though not strictly advocacy) would build a real energy around the organisation.  So in 2006 we started APEx Jogging club, Woodside Positive mental health Group and a (sporadic) swimming group.  

Great Orme, 2010In August 2009, we thought that a positive way of seeing us through the bleak winter was a Winter Walking group.  It would help to punctuate darker days with pockets of warming, shared exercise across North Wales and Northern England.

Events that APEx Members have attended include many local and regional races – including Marathons,  ½ marathons, 10k’s and the Monthly Wirral Seaside races Triathlons.  Myself and Shaun Hodgekiss also took part in a great event to swim across the Mersey from The Echo Arena in Liverpool to Monks Ferry in Birkenhead.


Even though the main aim is to introduce and support people through beginning exercise routines, we do cater for all aspirations and we are planning our “Door-Step” challenges, where we hope to show that you can have fun, adventures and challenges literally on your own door step.  We are planning a local sea swim that will be the equal of many ventures further afield that people aspire to complete – so watch this space!


After affiliating to England Athletics, it’s great to see how what started as a little idea is flourishing and we have several peer support groups now.  We are about torecruit a development worker to bring all of our exercise and peer support groups closer together and develop them further.  The groups are very inclusive and can cater for all aspirations – the focus has always been upon the social aspects of being in an exercise club!


Please feel free to contact me for further details or any new ideas!

 

Chris Shaw

Cheif Executive, Advocacy in Wirral

Tel: 0151 650 1530

 

Advocating Physical Exercise (APEx) Group

 

Physical Exercise is a great way to improve your mood.  Whether it's running, walking, swimming or cycling, even moderate exercise is a proven way to make you feel good.

Every week, we've organised a range of activities that are open to anyone who wants to improve their mood.

Hilbre Island Walk

Weekly Jogging

Advocacy in Wirral's APEx Group organises weekly jogging sessions for people of all fitness levels.  These are held on Wednesdays at 5pm and start at our Woodside offices.  They have attracted a large number of regular participants - but even if you're new to jogging you'll find a warm welcome!

You can simply turn up with some appropriate gear or, if you'd like to chat it through first, call Paul Griffiths via Advocacy in Wirral on 0151 650 1530 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Walks for All

Advocacy in Wirral's Walks for All have also proven to be very popular. In June 2008, over 30 adults and children (some experienced walkers and some complete novices) and an assortment of well-behaved dogs all made it across to Hilbre Island from West Kirby.   The day was such a success that we decided to repeat it, and since then a hardy band of walkers have walked around the Storeton area, up to Rivington Pike near Bolton, up the Great Orme at Llandudno and to Aber Falls in North Wales.

If you’re interested in coming along to future walks, please leave your name and telephone number on 0151 650 1530 or e-mail Chris Shaw on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we’ll get back to you with more details.

So — dig out your woollies and your wellies, get wrapped up, bring a flask and a butty, and we’ll look forward to seeing you soon for some fun!

 

Swimming

Two or three regulars at Advocacy make time for a weekly swim at Europa Pools in Birkenhead.  If you've always fancied swimming but don't like the idea of going alone, why not joing them for a few lengths or widths?

For more details, contact Chris Shaw at Advocacy in Wirral on 0151 650 1530 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Whatever you do - find a physical activity you enjoy and one that suits your level of mobility and fitness.

 

 
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