The sky is no limit for Community Health Champion Asma
Asmaa signed up to be a Community Health Champion earlier this year and hopes to inspire others with her passion for sport and fitness.
Asmaa Akhtar has loved running, sport and fitness all her life and although she now has five children, she shows no sign of slowing down.
A great role model in her community, Asmaa recently competed in the Calisthenics for beginners competition in the region and picked up a 1st and 2nd placing. She has also taken up sky diving as a personal hobby – proving that the sky is no limit for someone with her drive and determination
Last year Asmaa graduated from University of Staffordshire with a degree in Sport and
Exercise (Strength and Conditioning) with ambitions to become a Personal Trainer.
However, understanding that the local market for clients was limited, Asmaa approached VAST with the intention of setting up a Community Interest Company.
Now launched, the South Asian Health Initiative runs weekly fitness classes for women in Dresden, Burslem and Hanley.
Asmaa also found out about the Community Health Champions project and has continued her learning with the Health Inequalities and Health Literacy training on offer.
She said: “I’ve learnt so much about my approach and I’ve attended a lot of training and feel as though I am working with the community in a better way.
“With women and Asian women in particular, there are a lot of barriers to participation in sport and fitness and but I try to get them to understand the health benefits and help them prevent illness and injury where possible.”