Blurt course to spark life changes

Tuesday 6th November 2012

Elite athletes Cathy Wood and Tim Prendergast are working with a charity to help people kick-start change in their lives.
Cathy, an elite Ironman triathlete, and Tim, a visually impaired runner who competed in London 2012, have teamed up with Plymouth-based Blurt, which helps people dealing with depression.
They are offering two free interactive one-day courses which are aimed at encouraging people to initiate change in their lives regardless of how big or small.
People on the Sparking Change course will leave with a "comprehensive toolbox of helpful material and advice" to help them, and those they are close to, understand the complexities of feeling low or out of sorts. They will also be matched with a Blurt mentor to ensure ongoing online support.
Jayne Hardy, co-founder of Blurt, said: "We all know there are times in our lives when it can feel as if things are getting on top of us. It could be a major change, like the break-up of a relationship, children leaving for university, the loss of a loved one or seemingly insurmountable financial pressure.
"Any one of these can lead to a lack of confidence, a dip in self-esteem, a lack of motivation to complete even seemingly simple tasks and a loss of joy in our every day lives.
"The Sparking Change course aims to help anyone experiencing these feelings and in need of some additional support. It is also suitable for carers or those trying to help and understand family members or friends with depression."
Speaker Cathy represented Great Britain at world and European level before a life-changing accident forced her to retire. Cathy has designed the Sparking Change course to help take the stigma out of feelings of negativity and low self-esteem and move towards positive alternatives.
Tim won gold in the 800 metres in Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, and finished sixth in the 800m in London. He intends to compete in Rio in 2016.
The courses run on 24 and 25 November at Plymouth Guildhall. To register, visit http://plymouthsparkingchange-eorg.eventbrite.com or for more details email Cathy at cathy@sparkingchange.co.uk.

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