After a heart attack, it often takes a long time for those affected to find their way back to life. The fact that this path will be a little easier will be ensured by the heart sports group of TSV Westerland, which will take place on Saturday, June 29, already her 30th anniversary. In 1989, trainer Ingrid Kranz-Kahle held the first practice session together with Dr. Hans-Joachim Zielinski. It is a misconception that a heart attack can only affect stressed managers or people over the age of 60, according to the trained nurse: “In fact, they are people who are in the middle of life and are suddenly torn out of it without warning.” A heart attack, a bypass, a new heart valve or a stent: the most common diagnoses of cardiac sports participants.
The meritocracy with the attributes “higher, faster, further” ensures that the new participants of the heart sports group are getting younger and younger. In the meantime, the age range of those affected extends into midlife: the youngest heart athlete in TSV Westerland is 45 years old, the oldest 85 years old. In order to accompany these people as trainers on the often long way back to everyday life, the health insurance companies require a license. “The training lasts two years,” reports Ingrid Kranz-Kahle. In addition, regular training on the mainland and medical know-how are necessary, “so it is more than difficult to find a replacement or successor, especially since it is a voluntary activity.” However, additional coaches are urgently needed, club chairman Hans Wilhelm Hansen also emphasized: “The number of participants of 55 people shows that it is a very successful, but also very necessary group.” For 15 years, Dr. Henning Bachmann has been the accompanying physician of the cardiac sports group – at least the family doctor has a substitute for cardiac sports in Dr. Frank Brauer. “We always have an emergency kit and a defibrillator with us,” explains Henning Bachmann, but fortunately there has not been a major incident in 30 years. “In order to participate in the cardiac sports group, a doctor’s prescription is required. The health insurance company has to approve this and then also covers the costs for the training.”
With a lot of fun, long conversations and great group cohesion, the strengthening and mobilization of the body for reintegration into a new, different and more carefree life is given. In addition to the weekly training sessions in the sports hall of the St. Nicolai School, many other activities take place in the summer when the hall is closed. For the summer program, among other things, joint barbecues and petanque games are on the agenda. The partners of the participants are also allowed to take part in the summer: on beach walks, mudflat hikes and many other excursions. “It’s always nice: you get to know each other and can exchange ideas.”
In his speech at the anniversary celebration at a joint breakfast in the Ingwersen bakery, Herzsport member Dietrich Böhme also reported on great group cohesion: “We not only do sports together, we have also grown together into a community and friends in 30 years. I would like to express my sincere thanks to all my comrades for this.” He has lived on the island for 61 years and has been there since the first meeting in 1989.
