         
-
- Partners:
-
-
-
- Major Sponsors:
-
|
|
| STORIES FROM OUR PEOPLE | 
| Pennie Judson | Pennie
Judson is the Chairperson of the ‘Contact’ Arthritis
Support Group and this group has been hugely instrumental in the
success of the community fundraising to build a hydrotherapy pool in
Hamilton. She and her late husband brought up five children of their
own, but over a period of 10 years she cared for 50 different Welfare
children and now looks after young men with Special Needs.
Sixteen
years ago Pennie hurt her back in an accident, and following treatment
for the injury her doctor told her going swimming would help with her
rehabilitation. She went to Waterworld in Te Rapa but found the water
was too cold and after swimming it left her feeling like she
couldn’t move. Pennie then realized she needed to be in a pool
with heated water, and through a contact got in touch with the
Arthritis Co-ordinator who told her about a group that had started who
used a heated pool at the Fountain City Motel. Pennie decided to give
this a try and she has only missed 5 or 6 days in the 16 years since.
The
classes have been held at the Fountain City Motel for 24 years and they
heat the pool to the optimum temperature and allow its use free of
charge as a donation to the city. The people who attend the classes pay
a small charge to the motel to help with the cleaning of the rooms
where they change.
In the beginning one class was held a week
but there was such a demand from people who have had hip or knee
replacement that this was increased to two classes, Mondays and Fridays
with one session each day. The exercise sessions are taken by Wintec
students who do it as part of their training for a sports degree. The
Fountain City Motel pool has access problems therefore it doesn’t
suit everybody. Because it is not built as a hydrotherapy pool it lacks
the ease of entry and exit a purpose built pool has. At the moment
there are 32 people who use the hydrotherapy pool and go to classes. In
the winter time the numbers drop off dramatically because the water in
the motel pool is then too cool for most to attend regularly.
Pennie
said, “When the new Hydrotherapy Pool at Waterworld is finished
the Contact Hydrotherapy Group hope to have a class a day or at the
least three classes a week. It keeps those with health issues fit and
on their feet. The companionship and supportive atmosphere is a hugely
important element of the hydrotherapy group”.
The
hydrotherapy classes are 45 minutes long, which is the recommended time
and all the people who participate need to have a yearly doctor’s
clearance as a safety precaution.
The Contact Arthritis Support
Group has 124 members and they meet once a month in the netball hall at
Minogue Park. The group works in conjunction with Arthritis NZ and they
have a Buddy Line, Support and Hospital visiting Groups. Each month the
programme features a speaker or entertainment.
The group has
been fundraising to build the Hydrotherapy Pool for over four years.
During this time numerous stalls and garage sales were held where they
sold jams, pickles, baking, books and jumble. All members contributed
in some way. Even those with a disability who were made to feel useful
for the first time for many years because they supplied items like
sugar, flour, butter and eggs for baking. Between six and seven
thousand jars of jams and pickles were made by members and these were
much sought after, with some customers coming back for their favourites
time after time.
Not only did the stalls and garage sales help
with fundraising for the hydrotherapy pool but they also were an
important means to distribute information about the project to the
community.
The magnificent sum of $20,000 was donated to the Hydrotherapy Trust by the Contact Arthritis Support Group.
|
|
