Hucknall mums walking and running group has become a huge success story
A Hucknall group set up to mums of new children to get out and exercise with fellow new mums has seen its numbers swell to more than 100 in a matter of months.
Mums On The Move Notts was started back in July by Hucknall woman Lauren Cheetham, aged 35, who initially reached out to see if any fellow new mums in the area wanted to go for a walk in Titchfield Park.
She said: “I had my daughter Gracie back in May and she had colic and reflux and I initially just contacted a couple of mums I knew about going for a walk.
"I was starting with post-natal depression and I was feeling quite isolated at times and it was just good to get out.
"Initially there were just five of us who walked around Titchfield Park but I realised there must be other mums out there in similar situations and so I started a Facebook group called Mums on the Move and said anyone who wanted to come along was welcome.”
What started as just a few mums meeting up every fortnight, quickly snowballed to mums meeting once a week and now the group has more than 100 members going for weekly walks in Hucknall and sometimes further afield to areas like Colwick or Gedling.
From that, a new group called Girls Run Club has also now taken root.
Lauren continued: “I’m a police officer with British Transport Police so I know the value of safety in numbers.
"The mums were saying they wanted to get fitter but didn’t want to run out on their own so we started Girls Run Club as a result.
"We’ve got women who had never run before who have now done 5k and 10k races.
"But it’s not about times, it’s about us just being together and completing the run together – our slogan is ‘finish lines not finish times’ – and it’s a community that is continually growing.
"In the new year, we’re launching the 5k challenge group, starting from nothing and within 10 weeks, we’re running 5k.”
The astonishing rise of Mums On The Move Notts was confirmed when it finished runner-up in the Physical Activity Group Award at this year’s This Girl Can Awards.
Lauren said: “To say we’d only been going four months, to get this recognition was astonshing.
"It’s been a complete whirlwind and it’s nice to see how the other mums benefit from the community we’ve created.
“I know how I felt when Gracie was suffering with colic and I honestly couldn’t see a light at the end of the tunnel.
“And we’ve had so many mums who’ve come and said this has changed their maternity for the better because they felt they were in a similar position.
"So it’s been amazing and I genuinely believe that in 12 months time, it’s going to be even bigger.
"I makes me quite emotional sometimes and when we’re all together and see all these women together, I have to take a step back at times and think ‘my God, I’ve done this’ and it’s really special."
To get involved with Mums On The Move and Girls Run Club, visit the Mums on the Move Facebook page or email [email protected]