Matt Jarvis helped spread the message of the importance of living a healthy lifestyle at a recent West Ham United Community Sports Trust event.
The Hammers new No7 visited the Trust's Beckton headquarters to spend an afternoon at the Kickz Football Fitness Circuit - an eight-week health and fitness programme aimed at helping young men to keep healthy.
The men's health scheme is a free programme for men aged 18-45 who are Newham residents and want to improve their health and fi tness. The project is a joint-funded initiative with the Premier League and Hearty Lives Newham.
Jarvis was delighted to take part and explained the need for professional footballers like himself to make sure his body remains in prime physical condition to those in attendance.
"I was very impressed," he said. "A lot of the activities they are doing are very similar if not the same to what we in the fi rst team do, so they are defi nitely doing it right.
"I think it is great, the people who come down here are asked what sessions they would like to participate in, rather than going somewhere and not knowing what to do. It gives them a very good workout.
"The activities can also be individualised so people can work at their own personal level, it allows people to move on if they are doing well and if not, they stay where they are under no pressure.
"I think it is very important that people keep themselves fit and healthy, it brings positives to all aspects of life and if these courses can keep going and people continue to take part it will benefit everyone.
"It is fantastic that the club is so active within the community and if we as players can do little things like coming down and showing our support it will provide a massive boost.
"Like I mentioned, what people are doing here is similar to what we do, so West Ham United are definitely doing a great job within the community."
Trust community health projects manager Tania McKay said everyone involved had enjoyed Jarvis' visit.
"The group had the amazing opportunity to ask Matt about his own fitness regime and diet during a questions and answers session, we're always getting asked during the sessions is this like 'What do the players do?', so for them to have the opportunity to ask Matt directly was great.
"Matt joining in their training session will really motivate and inspire them to continue training with us and creates a great talking point with friends which will hopefully introduce new people to programmes.
"With the Olympics now over it's great to offer people the opportunity locally to try new sports and keep active. The Trust currently delivers 14 Olympic sports so there's always something new to try."
To join the free men's health programme, contact the community health department by calling 020 7473 7720 or by email at [email protected]