Port Glasgow woman with chronic health conditions says bowling has been a life saver

Mairi Stewart was diagnosed with fibromyalgia as well as arthritis and the conditions became so acute she was forced to give up work four years ago.

As she struggled to find ways to cope with the pain, come and try sessions at Gourock Park Bowling Club provided light at the end of the tunnel.

Now the club is looking to give other people with health problems a chance to discover the benefits of bowls.

Former lecturer Mairi said: "I love bowling.

"The best medicine for fibromyalgia is exercise and to keep moving, and the gentle rhythms and movement of bowling is perfect.

"I can also sit down when I want and take rests, so it has absolutely everything.

"It has helped me manage my pain so well.

"With my doctors' support, one of the things I wanted to do was reduce my medication and pain relief.

"I tried different ways to manage the pain and playing bowls has made such a difference."

Mairi says the atmosphere at Gourock Park is another attraction.

She said: "It is a brilliant club and I love the social side of it.

"I have made a lovely group of new friends.

"I started coming along to the come and try sessions after Covid and it was just brilliant to be able to sit socially distanced outside with people afterwards at a time when there were restrictions in place.

"My dad was a bowler at Victoria BC in Greenock so I knew a bit about it, but I always saw it as an old person's sport!

"I soon found it is not like that at all."

Mairi says that discovering she had fibromyalgia and arthritis was a huge shock.

She added: "I had a couple of traumas in my life - my mum died very suddenly and I also found myself a single parent raising three children.

"I just thought it was stress that was causing me all the pain.

"I went to the doctor and then the hospital and I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and arthritis.

"I had always worked and was a lecturer in lifelong learning, raised a family, was always busy and then this happened to me."

Now Mairi hopes to inspire other people with long term chronic conditions to get out there and take up a pursuit.

She added: "Some people say talk it out, and I have been down that road as well.

"But I feel you come to a point where you have to decide - am I going to give up and let this beat me or am I going to find ways through it, and that is what I chose to do.

"I very rarely talk about my condition now because I live with it every single day.

"It is hard to describe the worst days, but it is like your whole body is sensitive and sore - even your skin.

"I have to wear light clothes because it hurts too much and the whole thing can pull you down mentally and physically.

"No matter how much sleep you get it never helps and every joint hurts and there is muscular pain too.

"But every morning I wake up and I tell myself I am blessed, I have wonderful family, friends and I am alive."

Gourock Park Bowling Club's Lorna McCartney is keen to spread the word about the health benefits of the sport.

She supported her dad John in setting up the club's popular come and try sessions and also runs a women's group in the club.

She said: "Mairi is so inspiring to me and other people.

"It shows the huge benefits of bowling and that there is a sport for everyone."