In the year 2000 at the Royal Marsden Hospital, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 testicular cancer. After my operations and chemotherapy, I was fortunate to have post cancer medical and therapeutic care from my local Hospice and because I was so seriously unwell, I was medically retired from work.

I moved to the Roseland peninsular in Cornwall in 2004.

By chance in August 2018, I visited the PANTS charity shop in Falmouth and in conversations about how I had never been aware of any post cancer fitness rehabilitation programmes in Cornwall I decided to meet Steve Winnan at his gym in Penryn. This was mainly because in 2016 I had torn two of my right shoulder muscle ligaments, which resulted in some muscle wastage in my arm. My surgical operation to replace the shoulder joint was cancelled in 2018 and so thinking that as I had coped for two years without surgery maybe having a personal trainer to help me strengthen the deltoid muscles would be a sensible strategy. Steve was absolutely brilliant helping me recover from this injury. He understood instantly my post cancer health problems and my current fitness and physical difficulties. Although I was not in much pain, I could not move my right shoulder properly or lift objects with my right arm. I started with one-to-one fitness sessions to learn some basic techniques to help strengthen my shoulder muscles and to overcome some of the other muscle wastage from those torn ligaments. Then I was invited to join Steve’s weekly cancer rehabilitation group fitness sessions.

At the gym I met Jeannette Preston the founder of PANTS charity, I mentioned to Jeannette how delighted I was that Steve’s personal post cancer fitness programme was definitely helping me achieve a more fulfilled and active lifestyle.

In March 2020 because of the COVID – 19 when the UK Government closed all gymnasiums, I found myself in a solo social distancing lifestyle mode. Fortunately for me Steve immediately recommended that I join his on-line fitness programme. With internet “zoom” support Steve helped me with his group exercise routines throughout the lockdown. After the COVID 19 pandemic I returned to his gym for my weekly exercise routines and most importantly to meet again my gym group acquaintances.

28th June 2024