Award-winning cancer recovery course at Bexhill Leisure Centre

The company behind the centre, Freedom Leisure, designed the bespoke training for people to rebuild their strength after beating the disease.

The weekly sessions last an hour and form a circuit with exercises for every capability with alternatives to suit different fitness levels followed by tea and coffee for people to build a support network.

“Many people with cancer are quite weak and anxious initially so we train them very carefully and little by little they rebuild their muscular strength, endurance and confidence which, in turn, helps them fight the disease,” Freedom Leisure’s GP referral coordinator Stephanie Wadlow said.

“We understand it can be hard physically and emotionally to get back to exercise after cancer so our plan is broken down into manageable steps that can be accomplished.

“Many of the people on our first course now exercise independently at a moderate to high level, having found the strength and confidence to do so.”

Research has shown that exercise can help with recovery from cancer and Freedom Leisure had the training funded by Macmillan to ensure it is able to develop tailor-made programmes to suit people’s individual needs.

After exercising the group enjoys social time over tea and coffee where they share their experiences, lend emotional support to each other and form friendships.

“The social time afterwards gave people a chance to talk openly and share their stories,” Stephanie said.

“As fellow survivors they understand the unique challenges that cancer brings: I believe this mutual support is every bit as important to their recovery and rehabilitation as the physical activity.”

The classes are every Tuesday from 10am to 11am.

To find out more or to register for the programme, email [email protected] or call the leisure centre on 01424 731171.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.bexhillobserver.net/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bexhillobserver

3) Follow us on Twitter @BexhillObs

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Bexhill Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.