Swans head for Hafal sports day

Swansea City were on hand to mark mental health charity Hafal’s 15th physical well-being day.

Swans midfielder Yan Dhanda joined club ambassadors Lee Trundle and Leon Britton as well as a selection of under-23 players at Swansea University’s Ashleigh Road playing fields to take part in the annual Hafal event.

Hafal is a charity which operates across Wales, with 350 members of staff providing services around the country.

The Swans contingent got involved in a number of events at their sports day, as well as handing out prizes.

“It is fantastic for me and the rest of the boys to support an event like this,” Dhanda said.

“Meeting local people from the city is great and if doing this sort of thing makes them happy then we are delighted.

“Keeping physically active helps keep the mind happy which is what this event promotes.

“If we can help inspire people to keep healthy and active that is good news.”

Former Swans skipper Britton added: “Events like this one are fantastic to be involved in and seeing the people getting active and taking part is a joy.

“Hafal’s sports day is all about promoting keeping active to keep the mind active and healthy. We have been mixing in with the different events going on and it has been a lot of fun.”

Alun Thomas, Hafal’s chief executive, was delighted to have the Swans on board.

“We bring together people with serious mental illness alongside their families and carers across South Wales to promote physical well-being, healthy eating and show that physical activity is a good thing to do,” he explained.

“People with serious mental illness often die up to 20 years younger than people without a serious illness. A lot of that is down to the physical impact of their illness.

“Too often the focus is on their mental health and not their physical activity, which is what is important to them.

“So we want an event where people can get active, make some friends and enjoy themselves.

“It is great to have the Swans supporting this even – we have had financial support from the Community Trust over the years.

“We have also had tremendous support from people like Lee Trundle and Swans players to encourage and help people get active.”