First National Preventive Health Research Programme  YELP Holistic First Business Plan    YELP Holistic First Business Plan Defined Terms   SWOT Analysis   Executive Summary   Deliverables And Costs   Snapshot Page To 10 Benchmark Techniques   Defined Terms for Five YELP Business Plans

Second National Preventive Health Research Programme      Bohemian Teenagers Arts Assistance Programme

First BTAAP Business Plan      Bohemian Teenagers Show Choir Programme        Defined Terms BTSCP

Second BTAAP Business Plan    Bohemian Teenagers Symphony Orchestras Programme    Defined Terms - Bohemian Teenager Symphony Orchestra Programme

Third BTAAP Business Plan    Bohemian Teenager Ballet & Modern Dance Programme        Defined Terms BTB&MDCP

3.VI.(b)   Strenuous, weight-bearing, Challenging, exercise is a proven therapy for treating stress, anxiety and Depression

  Former Prime Minister John Howard attributes his longevity to inter alia regular exercise.  Mr Howard is renowned for his brisk sunrise walks.  Former Federal Minister for Heath, Tony Abbott, is exceedingly fit.  In 2005 Mr Abbott ran a 100km foot run with Pat Farmer to raise funds for charity and rides in the Annual Pollie Pedal where participants cycle 130km per day (ave) over a week each year, now in its 10th year.  The Event Organiser wrote to Federal Minister for Heath seeking support for KOMpm and received an encouraging response dated 6 May 2004.

Facts Sheet 8 titled "Keeping Active" from beyond blue's website espouses the merit of keeping active to treat depression ie. Wellbeing.  Alas, "Keeping Active" didn't scratch the surface of the enormous therapeutic benefits from regular rigorous, weight bearing exercise -

(A)         to enhance Wellbeing in stable people; and

(B)        directly assist mildly depressed or anxious people dissipate self-doubt and regain Self-esteem to enhance their Coping Skills.

Cycling is characterised by Wellbeing; the antithesis of Depression.  Cycling up hills "out of the saddle" entails significant upper body cohesion, and amidst taking on Challenging goals amidst a LCCBSG is therapeutic.  Aerobic exercise can be just as beneficial for a healthy mind, as for a healthy body. 

Over the last 20 years, the Business Plan Developer has evidenced -

 (i)                at least 100 "new" adults take up Recreational Road Cycling and, within 6 months of regular 100km Sunday rides, materially improve their Wellbeing and Coping Skills from achieving Challenging sporting events not only on their bike, but also in improved fitness and physical appearance eg. Andrew aka TugBoat has dropped form 110kg to 55.4kg in 3 years; and

 (ii)              a handful of cyclists, when experiencing abnormal emotional stress, throw themselves into endurance cycling to improve their self-confidence and combat bouts of depression; and

(iii)       vision impaired adults enhance their QOL and Self-esteem by riding on the back of a tandem with the Business Plan Developer riding as their Pilot.

Strenuous Exercise Lowers Depression Kline, L. M., & Coleman, W. R. conducted research in 2000 to measure the effect strenuous exercise may have on reducing depression during final examinations.  This study evaluated the relationship between exercise and depression in college students (M = 173; F = 430) during the naturally occurring stress of examinations.  Exercisers were divided into strenuous and non-strenuous groups.  Another group of students (M = 67; F = 134) not taking examinations, served as controls.  Strenuous exercisers were less depressed than non-strenuous exercisers.  Males had lower depression scores than females.  Implication. Strenuous exercise can lower depression in times of stress.

The Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Australia ("MPA") is a National Special Group of the Australian Physiotherapy Association.   Earlier in 2007 the MPA released Issue 1 of a new one-line magazine "In Touch".  The Contents of "In Touch" fleetingly describes immediately below a fine article which commences on page 17:

 "EFFECT OF EXERCISE
La Trobe University's Nick Taylor looks at the effect of exercise on depression - how patients can benefit from getting active."

The article titled "Exercise & depression" by Nick Taylor of La Trobe University's School of Physiotherapy is a marvellous summation of the material benefits that strenuous, weight-bearing exercise can play in achieving (A) and (B) above.

Nick Taylor's 4 page article, which refers to research done by Lawlor and Hopker published in the British Medical Journal in 2001 supports strenuous, weight bearing exercise within a collegiate social environment as an effective therapy for (A) and (B) above. 

The Business Plan Developer has commented on many of the key paragraphs in Nick Taylor's article to inter alia highlight that a Youthful Exuberance Lifestyle Programme will achieve the benefits of an effective anti-depression physio treatment that Nick Taylor identifies, but immeasurably cheaper due to marshalling the power of the Internet and materially more enjoyably due to a LCCBSG with a Social Theme.  Hence, more effectively.

Other articles on the merit of exercise to increase Self-esteem include:

*        Why exercise cheers you up by doctors at Nottingham Trent University, UK

*        Getting High on Exercise by Sueann Allen

*        Psychological Health by the Cycling Promotion Fund

Australian Rotary Health is the largest single project of Rotary in Australia and largest provider of funds for mental health research after the Australian Government.  Its main aim is to fund research projects into all aspects of community health and improve the QOL for those dealing with mental illness. 

On 21 March 2009 Australian Rotary Health will start the Great Australian Bike which will travel anti-clockwise around the country from Melbourne to Melbourne - most ambitious bike ride ever held in Australia - scheduled to finish back in Melb. 9½ months later on 10 Oct.
 

Australian's can opt to ride one or more of 9 long inter-state legs.  Presently there are slightly over100 entrants which are expected to swell as publicity builds between now and its finish in Oct.

A few below Rider Profiles are testimony to the mental and physical benefits of Committing To And Completing An Annual Endurance Sporting Event:

(1)        60 year old retired teacher/librarian and current lifesaver, Ms. Roberta Gordon, who has accepted the challenge of riding over 17,800km around Australia to raise $40,000+.  Roberta rode 2,000km from Brisbane to Birdsville off-road in 2006 with two others carrying all food, water and camping equipment.

(2)        Tom Brown from Mission Beach, Nth Qld, who turns 70 in Jan, identifies that taking on a difficult Challenge provides "a greater sense of purpose”.  In 2006 Tom undertook a 200km walk through WA’s harsh Pilbara region on what was described by American National Geographic as “the world’s most arduous Outback Survival Course open to civilians”, losing 10kg in 10 days.  Tom was initially limiting his ride to cycling the Australian mainland, but after a few other old codgers have entered for the TWO Tasmanian legs as well, Tom is now attempting the full 17,800km route.

(3)        Gonny and John Rundell have been riding together for over 4 years.  Gonny has set herself the challenge of riding the full 17,800km with John offering support by cycling a 10,000km.  Gonny’s qualities of commitment, passion and inspiration are the underlying motivation for Team Rundell to set itself a target of raising $65,000. Gonny and John have been married for 36 years and have pursued an active life through sport, family holidays, community participation and career pursuits.  Gonny still tap dances and regularly volunteers at the community emergency relief centre.