Specialised exercise group receives £500 donation

An exercise group for those with limited mobility, disabilities and chronic conditions has been awarded a charity donation for its new classes.

MOVEability received £500 from Waitrose in Thatcham through the Waitrose & Partners’ ‘Give a Little Love Campaign’.

The donation has helped the local business set up an on-site seated exercise class in the area.

A taster class will be held today (Thursday) at its venue, the Alice Bye Court retirement home in Bluecoats.

Deputy mayor of Thatcham Mark Lillycrop will be at the official launch and taking part in the first class on June 30.

Founder Debbie Medlin hosted a presentation day with some of her “amazing clients” – aige Cullen, an 11-year-old girl who has made “remarkable progress" since attending online classes, West Berkshire Fibromyalgia Support committee member Mary Jacobs, who “endorses the online classes for managing the symptoms of fibromyalgia”, and Jenny and Mark Lillycrop, who attend weekly.

She said: “It is absolutely incredible. We rely heavily on donations because we keep our prices so low. The thing for me is affordability.

“Without donations like this we would not be able to do this.”