THE man who has kept the beat of Ballarat\u2019s heart health walking groups going has received an honour.<\/p>\n
Heartbeat Ballarat\u2019s Barry Nixon has been given a Heart Foundation 2023 Golden Shoe Award for his coordination of the Heartbeat Ballarat Walking Group that encourages good heart health and mental wellbeing through movement.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was gobsmacked that I won the award as I didn\u2019t know I\u2019d been nominated,\u201d he said. \u201cThe walkers circulated an email amongst themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were 200 nominees in Victoria, so to win was genuinely really surprising. I don\u2019t volunteer to be acknowledged, but it\u2019s nice to be recognised.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Heartbeat walks began almost five years ago, and there are now various walks taking off across the city each week, with 70 regular people of all fitness levels taking part.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very encouraged by that,\u201d Mr Nixon said. \u201cPeople join cardiac walks and they\u2019re pretty unwell, and my greatest reward is to see their disease burden ease.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey often come walking very tentatively, and after a few weeks, they\u2019re walking kilometres. You can see their wellness improve and disease burden really ease.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s my motivation. I love to see the difference it makes in people\u2019s lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heartbeat walker Alan Bell said Mr Nixon is tireless in supporting people who have additional health needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe facilitates liaison with district medical personnel and services with walkers and the wider community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe promotes connectedness and wellbeing within our community. His contribution to the Ballarat community is enormous.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heart Foundation senior advisor for physical activity Elizabeth Calleja said the Golden Shoe Awards celebrate service to the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWalking continues to be something that empowers so many people, especially for those who may otherwise miss out on exercise and socialising with others,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHeart Foundation Walking is Australia\u2019s largest free walking network. During the past 28 years, the number of people joining a Heart Foundation Walking group has skyrocketed.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor some people, joining a Heart Foundation walking group has been a genuinely life-saving decision. Come for the walk but stay for the talk.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE man who has kept the beat of Ballarat\u2019s heart health walking groups going has received an honour. Heartbeat Ballarat\u2019s Barry Nixon has been given a Heart Foundation 2023 Golden Shoe Award for his coordination of the Heartbeat Ballarat Walking Group that encourages good heart health and mental wellbeing through movement. \u201cI was gobsmacked that […]<\/p>\n