Brian Bush is Head of Business at Impact Services, award-winning solar and renewable installers in Norwich, and co-founder of Walk to Run Wellness CIC. Here, he shares the personal reasons why he supports people with health conditions feel more confident with their fitness
What does your role at Impact Services involve?
As Business lead I am responsible for all sales activity and develop and manage all strategic partnerships across the business covering solar, battery and electric vehicle contracts across the commercial, agricultural, education and charity sectors.
What is Walk to Run Wellness CIC and how long has it been going for?
Walk to Run Wellness CIC is a specialist organisation working with people with health conditions to support them in their own activity and development journeys. The CIC was born out of a successful NHS programme which the founders were involved in between 2012-2016 yet could not progress due to a lack of available funding allocated to exercise and activity. In 2022 myself and co-founder Charles Allen decided we would recrate this ideal as a Community Interest Company to allow a more flexible and open model of operation.
How can people access it – and what is your involvement there?
Most of our users are referred locally through the Active Now scheme, managed by Broadland District Council on behalf of the Integrated Care Board. My role is to develop our partnerships with additional organisations to facilitate enhanced practice and skills development, funding streams and wider participation from other users.
What is behind your latest health and fitness drive (and how is it going)?
Health issues – or a reduction of them, specifically. I have Type 1 Diabetes, M.E. and a couple of other associated health issues and am finding the day-to-day management of these more challenging. I am fully aware that activity and good health management are vital components of any treatment or management plan an decided on a recent trip away that I needed to adjust some of my habits to improve my circumstances. I am improving slowly by reducing alcohol, dietary adjustment and increased activity levels. I have also developed issues with insulin resistance and pooling which means the insulin I inject does not all get absorbed and, as a result, my glucose levels are heightened. Insulin pooling (or lipohypertrophy) is the build-up of excess insulin causing fatty lumps and tissue damage at the site of multiple injections. Enhanced activity and exercise will allow more positive distribution of insulin and subsequently a reduction of these issues.
What would your message be to others who are thinking of taking that first step?
Do something. It doesn’t need to be aligned to what other folks do but activity is vital to improved health and physical and psychological strength.
What are your ultimate health and fitness goals?
Lose weight, increase fitness levels so I am not breathless from climbing stairs, and live longer and better. Improved physicality really does benefit us psychologically and the whole-body function is enhanced which really will improve on our own quality of life.
Visit walktoruncic.co.uk and impact-services.co.uk
Featured images supplied by Brian Bush
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