A Lanarkshire dad is hoping to replicate the success of a peer group he was involved with before moving to East Kilbride.
Garry Adams has set up a Lanarkshire Active Dads (LADS) Facebook group and wants to encourage men across the area to get involved to help boost their health and wellbeing – physically and mentally.
The 40-year-old dad-of-two moved to East Kilbride last year after living in Ayrshire.
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It was here he became a member of an active dads group which proved to be a tremendous success.
And unable to find something similar in the EK area, Garry decided to form his own group.
The emergency services worker told Lanarkshire Live : “The whole concept is to improve physical and mental health by encouraging like minded guys to meet up for walks, runs, cycles, hill walks, you name it.
“It’s all free and arranged by me initially but with the hope that the guys will start to create their own events to get more and more men out and talking.
“I joined a similar group when I was living through in Ayrshire and I moved to East Kilbride with my partner and two kids last August.
“The Ayrshire group just proved such a fantastic success that I though why not try and do the same thing through here?
“Men are known for not wanting to talk, they might be embarrassed, and in Ayrshire you had guys coming along to events that on the face of it seemed to have no issues – a good job, great family life.
“But as the weeks went on they opened up about all sorts of problems, from gambling and other addictions to suicide, that they maybe felt they couldn’t talk to anyone else about. I don’t think I’m over doing it by saying the group literally saved lives.
“And becoming more active is great for your physical health too and I’m sure there are lots of guys that want to get a bit fitter. I think all of us can be a wee bit guilty of not wanting to go out.”
The active dads group is also a great way to meet new people, especially if like Garry – from EK’s Westwood area – you are new to the area.
“I really got the ball moving in the New Year and I have 41 members on the page now,” he told us.
“The first three members were all guys who had moved to the East Kilbride and Lanarkshire area from elsewhere and didn’t really new anyone or what there was to do in the area.
“People can be apprehensive about meeting strangers but I want this to be a safe, friendly, relaxed environment to meet new people.”
Garry hopes the LADS group will cover a wide range of activities from leisurely walks and rambles to 5ks and Tough Mudder events.
He also want to join park runs – free weekly, community events that take place all around the UK.
Everyone is welcome to along, whether they walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate.
And charities and local good causes could also benefit from the group.
Garry added: “Through in Ayrshire we also did a lot for charity, whether it was food banks drives or doing the likes of Tough Mudder for local charities.
“We even managed to raise thousands of pounds to buy a specialist bike for a disabled child that otherwise wouldn’t have been able to get it. The family were able to buy the bike outright, which was a big help.
“And any money we raise stays within the local community so if we can do anywhere near as much good with the Lanarkshire group, I will be delighted.”
To join go the the LADS Facebook page.
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