Chrissie's Story

CHRISSIE DIDN'T JUST FIND HER STRENGTH, SHE GOT HER LIFE BACK.

After two years of cancer treatment, Chrissie wanted one thing: to feel like herself again.

Having completed treatment for melanoma, Chrissie was struggling physically and emotionally.

She had gained almost three stone, became breathless after walking only a short distance and had lost confidence in her ability to get around safely.

She could no longer walk her two dogs and relied on other people to take them out.

Even leaving the house felt daunting.

One day, Chrissie spotted a Facebook post advertising our free Saturday Walk & Talk in New Romney, she decided to give it a try.

When she arrived, Luke and Aimee welcomed her into the group and helped her feel at ease but that first walk wasn't easy.

Chrissie managed just a few hundred yards with her walking stick before needing to turn back.

One of the group members walked back alongside her but Chrissie didn't give up, she returned the following week and the week after that.

Gradually, her strength and confidence grew until she could complete the entire walk without her stick.

Chrissie had two very personal goals, she wanted to walk her dogs independently again and enjoy holidays with her husband, including trips away in their campervan.

She asked Luke for help and began working with us, with a tailored programme of cardio, strength training and nutritional support.

Chrissie also joined the Wednesday evening fitness group, giving her something social to look forward to each week and slowly, the things she'd missed began becoming possible again.

Today, Chrissie is walking her dogs to the beach every day, she and her husband have enjoyed weekends away in their campervan and two holidays to Benidorm.

Those two holidays tell an incredible story.

On their first trip, Chrissie needed to hire a mobility scooter to keep up with her husband, who uses one himself.

On their second trip, she walked everywhere.

Up hills, down hills, exploring together and completing between 8,000 and 11,000 steps every day, something that once felt completely out of reach.

For Chrissie, strength training and community support have helped her rebuild her confidence, independence and enjoyment of everyday life following cancer treatment.

But perhaps the most powerful part of her story is how it all began, not with a gym membership, not with an ambitious fitness goal.

Just one brave decision to turn up to a free community walk.

In Chrissie's own words:

"I wanted my life back after the cancer treatment and with Luke and Aimee's continual encouragement I have achieved that."

And for anyone struggling to take that first step, she has a message:

"When you make that decision you are greeted with a wonderful group of people who have come from their own difficulties but are there to help and encourage you."