Walking Football with Colchester United Foundation has been a 鈥楪odsend鈥 for Lee.
Lee was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2012 and was soon referred to walking football by medical staff who support Lee with his condition.
His diagnosis soon began to impact a range of elements of his life, including his ability to work and socialise.
He explained: 鈥淚 had to have a lot of time off work before becoming home-based, if I鈥檓 being honest, I lost a lot of confidence.鈥
As well as affecting Lee鈥檚 speech, he also has a right-sided weakness, symptoms of which include pins and needles and a leg drag, which are particularly evident during colder months.
Lee described the sessions as a 鈥楪odsend鈥 when outlining the changes he has noticed since he first started coming to the sessions, it is easy to understand why.
By his own admission, Lee had begun to wallow in his own self-pity, lost a lot of his confidence and was struggling with his mental health, finding the prospect of going out to be a daunting one.
However, walking football has provided Lee with a renewed self-confidence.
鈥淚t鈥檚 massively improved my social skills; I鈥檝e met loads of great people on the programme and the coaches have been brilliant and a big support. I鈥檇 recommend it to anyone. It鈥檚 been a big benefit to my life.鈥
Although the session shows obvious physical benefits, for many and especially Lee, the improvements in his social and mental well-being far outweighs that.
He said: 鈥淚nteracting with other people has played a huge part and a lot of social skills have come out of that, I think.
We鈥檝e started going out on social events outside of the sessions, we鈥檝e done some curry nights for example, and we鈥檝e also taken part in tournaments at Ipswich Town whilst representing Colchester United, which we all enjoyed massively. I鈥檝e probably met 40-odd new friends because of coming here. It鈥檚 a pleasure to spend my evenings with the people here (players & staff).”
With the support of his fellow participants, Lee is raising money for Multiple Sclerosis UK on MS Awareness Day (30th May 2024) by encouraging them to wear something orange.