Roy completed his treatment for Prostate Cancer nearly five years ago and over the last two years has become a regular at our Active Recovery gym session and group walk but it took a while before he joined us.

“When I finished the radiotherapy, they gave me the information about the programme and I didn’t really know what it was about and to begin with I didn’t bother,” He explained. “bother but eventually I thought I ought to find out so I contacted Hannah and came in and she showed me round and I took it up. I started off doing a few light exercises at home according to a programme she gave me but after a while I decided to come to the gym and I think that’s helped to keep me reasonable fit for an old bloke.”

In his time on our programme Roy has seen himself become a part of a growing community, where the participants look out for each other.

He said: “Over the last two years there seems to have been a change in the way the arrangements are organised because they have started to make it more socially interactive.

“They have brought in things like a communal walk and I go on that every Friday morning in Darley Abbey so I get to chat to a few other people who are in a similar position and I get to have a coffee afterwards so that’s quite good and I’m sure the walk does me good although I don’t go all that fast.

“There are other activities as well that they have started to introduce and we have a WhatsApp group so we can all get in touch with each other which is good.”

This increased social interaction has meant that Roy has seen an improvement in his mental health as well as his physical one as he recovers from his Cancer.

“I am generally a bit of a loner, but I think the increased social interaction has been a big benefit,” he said. “Before I did feel a little isolated, I didn’t know anybody. I used to come in and not speak to anybody but now I have a chat with several people before I start working.

“I look forward to coming to the sessions each week. I didn’t used to, but I do now and the commitment of coming once a week helps me to keep coming and when I get here we usually have a laugh and see how other people are getting on. It’s beneficial, I think.”

One person who has seen that change in Roy is Physical Activity and Health Officer Lee Fearnley who works closely with him on the programme. He said: “It’s been fantastic to see how far Roy has come during his time on the programme. Certainly, since I have been working with him he has come out of his shell and become a much more social person and is getting involved in a variety of our sessions.

“He’s gone from someone who would just come and do his own thing and leave to someone that is a big part of the group and gets on really well with everyone. It’s great to see such a positive change.”

Roy has urged anyone who is thinking about signing up for the programme to do just that.

He said: “I’d say don’t hesitate. I’d say get in touch, come in and have a chat with one of the instructors and take it from there.”

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