{"id":1706,"date":"2026-04-09T08:41:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T08:41:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/?p=1706"},"modified":"2026-04-09T08:41:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T08:41:01","slug":"northern-lights-shine-in-walking-football-tournament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/?p=1706","title":{"rendered":"Northern Lights shine in walking football tournament"},"content":{"rendered":"
\ufeff<\/p>\n
Northern Lights shine in walking football tournament<\/title><meta name=\"description\" content=\"\"><meta name=\"keywords\" content=\"\"><meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index,follow\"><meta name=\"googlebot\" content=\"index,follow\"><meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary\"><meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Northern Lights shine in walking football tournament\"><meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"\"><meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"website\"><meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.vitalenergi.co.uk\/media\/press-releases\/northern-lights-shine-in-walking-football-tournament\/\"><meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Northern Lights shine in walking football tournament\"><meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"rich-text-case-study rte\">\n<div class=\"wrap rich-text-case-study__wrap\">\n<p><span class=\"rich-text-pumps__text rte__text\">Teams from Vital Energi and Parkinson\u2019s support community, Northern Lights, took to the pitch in a walking football tournament at Witton Park, Blackburn on Friday 26<sup>th<\/sup> July, a highlight for everyone involved for the second consecutive year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Based in the North West, Northern Lights (NLPD) is a self-funded, voluntary organisation which offers support and help to people with Parkinson\u2019s disease – a brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination \u2013 and brings people together by introducing them to the joys of walking football.<\/p>\n<p>A great way to stay fit and potentially relieve some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s, walking football also allows participants to learn new skills and make friends with those in a similar situation.<\/p>\n<p>As part of Vital Energi\u2019s commitment to sponsoring the team for the next five years, and after last year\u2019s successful tournament, almost 30 Vital players took to the pitch against teams from NLPD\u2019s walking football club.<\/p>\n<p>Six teams battled it out, and following an intense penalty shootout, NLPDs\u2019 B team was crowned the worthy winner.<\/p>\n<p>Steve Ashworth, member of NLPD who helped establish the relationship with Vital Energi and organised the tournament, said:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe approached Gary Fielding, back in April 2023 to talk about a possible sponsorship of NLPD. The 2023 football tournament schedule was forecast to be a busy year for NLPD and had the potential to be successful in our quest for trophies.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhilst the actual day to day activities can be considered to be miles apart, Vital Energi and NLPD share the same values. They both have a desire and drive to be the best at what they do, in their respective roles within the renewable energy and charitable sectors.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe inaugural NLPD v Vital Energi match in 2023 set off a relationship that we envisage to be successful for the long term. Whilst there was a significant age difference between the players, there was obvious mutual respect, and that respect has followed through to this year. The guys at Northern Lights are still buzzing about the tournament last week, what a superb day it was.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNLPD are scheduled to travel to Oslo in September where we\u2019ll be playing against Parkinson\u2019s walking football teams from across Europe to win the Ray Kennedy Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"quote\">\n<div class=\"wrap quote__wrap\">\n<div class=\"swiper-container js-simple-quotes\">\n<div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n<div class=\"quote__holder\"><span class=\"quote__icon\"> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"36\" height=\"28\" viewbox=\"0 0 36 28\"><g fill=\"#F58220\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M12.319 0h3.648a2 2 0 0 1 1.838 2.788l-10.286 24A2 2 0 0 1 5.681 28H2.033a2 2 0 0 1-1.838-2.788l10.286-24A2 2 0 0 1 12.319 0zM30.319 0h3.648a2 2 0 0 1 1.838 2.788l-10.286 24A2 2 0 0 1 23.681 28h-3.648a2 2 0 0 1-1.838-2.788l10.286-24A2 2 0 0 1 30.319 0z\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg> <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"quote__holder\">\n<p class=\"quote__text\">\u201cWe\u2019re really pleased to be supporting Northern Lights and helping raise awareness of Parkinson\u2019s and the fantastic work they do as a charity. The team spirit and camaraderie I witnessed during Friday\u2019s tournament between all players and teams was amazing to see.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"quote__author\">Gary Fielding, <span class=\"quote__position\"> Chairman of Vital Energi<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-text-case-study rte\">\n<div class=\"wrap rich-text-case-study__wrap\">\n<p><strong>NLPD Player Spotlight<\/p>\n<p><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As a family with their five children, Christine and Keith McIndoe have been living with Parkinson\u2019s for the last 12 years, and through the support of NLPD and an innovative brain implant, they have finally seen light at the end of the tunnel.<\/p>\n<p>Keith, aged 44, was diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s 12 years ago, and after trying all the medication available to no avail and losing his job as he couldn\u2019t control the symptoms, he was put forward for deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery, which has transformed his outlook on life.<\/p>\n<p>DBS surgery is where fine wires that are inserted into specific areas of the brain, connected to a pulse generator, and when switched on, the electrodes deliver high-frequency stimulation to the targeted area. This stimulation changes some of the electrical signals in the brain that cause the symptoms of Parkinson\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMyself and Keith have been together for 22 years, and the last 12 have really put us to the test as a family,\u201d said Christine. \u201cKeith took the role of stepdad to my eldest children, and grandad to their children, and we also have two boys together, Josh (21) and Lewis (17),\u00a0both with DiGeorge and Autism.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSince the successful surgery in 2022, Keith has a completely new lease of life. We\u2019ve fallen back in love, we\u2019ve have just got married following Keith\u2019s proposal last December. And we can\u2019t wait for our honeymoon in Norway in September with the rest of the Northern Lights team!<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNLPD is our family. They have changed our lives,\u00a0provided us with endless support, we\u2019ve made friends, and are now doing things we didn\u2019t think possible, like going on holiday, and playing in walking football tournaments in Glasgow. If anyone is down or feeling they can’t cope there always someone at NLPD to pick you back up!<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA Parkinson\u2019s diagnosis\u00a0is not the end, but the beginning. No matter what you have on in your life, we can still fight and continue to be happy!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>During the tournament, the tombola and raffle raised \u00a3335. This will go towards the running of the charity, and ensure members like Christine and Keith have a safe haven with unlimited support.<\/p>\n<p>Find out more about NLPD by clicking\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nlpd2019.com\/\"><strong>here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-text-image rte\" data-anchor=\"\">\n<div class=\"wrap rich-text-image__wrap\">\n<div class=\"rich-text-image__img-holder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"rich-text-image__img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vitalenergi.co.uk\/media\/cekfudmu\/image-2024-07-30t095129-369.jpg?crop=0,0.097086141004659,0,0.14602763145043082&cropmode=percentage&width=835&height=474&rnd=133669779312800000\" alt=\"Image 2024 07 30T095129.369\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-text-image__text-container\">\n<p>Christine and Keith McIndoe<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitalenergi.co.uk\/javascript:\" class=\"js-read-more-rte read-more-btn\">Solution detail<span class=\"btn__link font-ico-plus\"><\/span><span class=\"btn__link font-ico-minus\"><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-text-image rte\" data-anchor=\"\">\n<div class=\"wrap rich-text-image__wrap\">\n<div class=\"rich-text-image__img-holder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"rich-text-image__img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vitalenergi.co.uk\/media\/zn0bf53o\/image-2024-07-30t093704-461.jpg?crop=0,0.088345509695966593,0,0.15476826275912323&cropmode=percentage&width=835&height=474&rnd=133669778542100000\" alt=\"Image 2024 07 30T093704.461\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitalenergi.co.uk\/javascript:\" class=\"js-read-more-rte read-more-btn\">Solution detail<span class=\"btn__link font-ico-plus\"><\/span><span class=\"btn__link font-ico-minus\"><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-text-image rte\" data-anchor=\"\">\n<div class=\"wrap rich-text-image__wrap\">\n<div class=\"rich-text-image__img-holder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"rich-text-image__img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vitalenergi.co.uk\/media\/440nt05m\/image-2024-07-30t092211-003.jpg?crop=0,0.0706693095736438,0,0.17244446288144588&cropmode=percentage&width=835&height=474&rnd=133669778224500000\" alt=\"Image 2024 07 30T092211.003\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitalenergi.co.uk\/javascript:\" class=\"js-read-more-rte read-more-btn\">Solution detail<span class=\"btn__link font-ico-plus\"><\/span><span class=\"btn__link font-ico-minus\"><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-text-image rte\" data-anchor=\"\">\n<div class=\"wrap rich-text-image__wrap\">\n<div class=\"rich-text-image__img-holder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"rich-text-image__img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vitalenergi.co.uk\/media\/bwyp4tu4\/image-2024-07-30t093943-749.jpg?crop=0,0.12311309742579825,0,0.12000067502929143&cropmode=percentage&width=835&height=474&rnd=133669778899770000\" alt=\"Image 2024 07 30T093943.749\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitalenergi.co.uk\/javascript:\" class=\"js-read-more-rte read-more-btn\">Solution detail<span class=\"btn__link font-ico-plus\"><\/span><span class=\"btn__link font-ico-minus\"><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\ufeff Northern Lights shine in walking football tournament Teams from Vital Energi and Parkinson\u2019s support community, Northern Lights, took to the pitch in a walking football tournament at Witton Park, Blackburn on Friday 26th July, a highlight for everyone involved for the second consecutive year. Based in the North West, Northern Lights (NLPD) is a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":321,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"ve_media_section":[3],"ve_media_year":[],"ve_sector":[],"class_list":["post-1706","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","ve_media_section-press-releases"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1706","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1706"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1706\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1706"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1706"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1706"},{"taxonomy":"ve_media_section","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fve_media_section&post=1706"},{"taxonomy":"ve_media_year","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fve_media_year&post=1706"},{"taxonomy":"ve_sector","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fve_sector&post=1706"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}