A MAN living with MS insists taking up walking football five years ago has vastly improved his physical and mental health.
Paul McGaw is a member of the Dumbarton Walking Football Club and has decided to organise a tournament with the aim of raising funds for MS Society Scotland.
Walking football is considered one of the fastest-growing sports in the country and Paul, who was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in 2007, encouraged anybody and everybody to get involved with the event.
He said: “My in-laws actually said to me that there was a walking football team in the local area and to give it a try. It’s been good.
“I’m not too steady on my feet. I used to still be able to do a wee bit of ‘proper’ football, with a wee bit of running. But I can’t do that now, I fall over.
“In walking football there’s no running allowed, no jogging. When you get the ball, you get three touches of it before you’ve either got to pass it or just leave it. The matches last an hour rather than 90 minutes.
“I’d say playing benefits both my physical and mental health. Sometimes with relapsing-remitting MS you can be all right pottering around for the hour. Sometimes your MS just decides not to play and I have to say, sorry guys, I need to come off the pitch and sit down for a bit.
“Anyone can do it. Originally it was an over-50s walking football team. I said: ‘Any chance I can tag along? I’ve actually got MS and I’m not very steady on my feet.’ And they went ‘ah all right, no worries, on you come.’ And that was it. I think one of the guys is in his seventies. There’s a right mix of ages.”
The team Paul plays for is the official walking football team of Dumbarton FC, and representatives from the club will be attending the event. The Kitchen Depot in Dumbarton is sponsoring the tournament.
Four teams are already signed up to play and if anyone else is keen to take part they can contact the group by emailing dumbartonfcwalkingfootball150@gmail.com.
As well as raising money through player entry fees (£60 per seven-a-side team) there will be a raffle on the day and a trophy presentation and refreshments at the end of the event.
Paul added: “People just come along and have a laugh, a joke, and a kick about and don’t take it too seriously. We are still competitive when we play, we don’t want to lose, it’s just not worth getting worked up about.”
Morna Simpkins, director of MS Society Scotland, said: “We are extremely grateful to Paul and everyone at Dumbarton Walking Football Club for choosing to support MS Society Scotland.
“More than 15,000 people in Scotland are living with MS. It damages nerves in the body and makes it harder to do everyday things, like walk, talk, eat and think. Funds raised by our fantastic supporters, like Paul and his teammates, help us to continue supporting the MS community today as well as funding ground-breaking research into more and better treatments for everyone with MS in the future.
“Good luck to all the teams taking part and we hope you have an enjoyable day.”
Dumbarton Walking Football Club’s Walking Football Tournament takes place on the synthetic pitch at Argyll Park Sports Pitches, Argyll Street, Alexandria, G83 0QJ from 12 to 4pm on Sunday 2 July.
People can also make a donation here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/paul-mcgaw-1680703290049<https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/pcxvCJynnSqgM1vRsVfbfS>
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