Contact magazine: Keeping active

Supershoes is a national charity that helps children and young people become active again after a cancer diagnosis. Its founder and CEO, Sarah White, tells us how it provides young patients with a pair of specially crafted shoes designed to encourage them to move.

Cyclists Fighting Cancer (CFC) supports children and young people living with and beyond cancer in the UK by giving them new, lightweight bikes, specially adapted trikes and cycling equipment. Liz Pharoah, CFC trustee and cancer exercise specialist, tells us more.

Brainbow is a specialist rehabilitation service for children with brain tumours based at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. Becca Knowles, specialist paediatric physiotherapist, tells us about its pilot project employing a PE teacher within its hospital school.

Emma Cooper’s daughter Madeleine was diagnosed with a germ cell tumour aged four. She tells us how Madeleine’s love for gymnastics helped her both physically and mentally during treatment.

Tom Fletcher, specialist paediatric exercise therapist at Sheffield Children’s Hospital

Kat Earley's son Cohen was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, aged four. She writes about how staying active wherever possible played a crucial role in his wellbeing both during and after treatment.

60 seconds with Abu Sidhanee, children's physiotherapist and CCLG member

‘Make a Move!’ is a dedicated sports and activities day organised for children and young people who have been treated for cancer and blood disorders, under the care of Bristol Children’s Hospital. Kate Millar, paediatric physiotherapist at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, tells us more.

Saskia Wells was diagnosed with a brain tumour, aged 16. Now 18, she tells us about being one of the first patients in the UK to receive one-to-one exercise therapy support through the Active Hospitals project, funded by Public Health England and Sport England, at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Debbi Rowley (left) and Lucy Waller (right) are physiotherapists at Sheffield Children’s Foundation Trust and Great Ormond Street Hospital, respectively. Here, they offer advice on things to consider before starting physical activity and tell us about some of the initiatives happening across the UK to help children with cancer move more.

Promoting physical activity in childhood cancer survivors: Using qualitative and co-design methods to inform the development of an evidence-based intervention.

Dr Peter Wright, Hayley Marriott and Dr Alba Solera-Sanchez, researchers at Oxford Brookes University, explain the benefits of staying physically active during and after treatment and explore how we can work collaboratively to improve physical activity pathways and support for children and young people.

Jake Heasman was diagnosed with a brain tumour when he was two years old, leaving him visually impaired. He tells us how his experiences of cancer helped drive him on to sporting success.