This entry was posted on Friday, November 21st, 2014at 1:53 pm by zoe.leahy@activenation.org.uk

Keeping Active Helped Suzanne’s Fight Against Breast Cancer And Diabetes

A truly inspirational Active Nation Supporter has just collected a prestigious award after using exercise to help her win her own battles with breast cancer and diabetes.

Suzanne Pindred is a regular at Active Nation’s Birchwood Leisure Centre in Lincoln and first visited the centre after being diagnosed with borderline diabetes in 2010.

She is adamant that getting active to lose the 2 stone target set by her GP, set her up to be able to fight breast cancer just 2 years later.

Although she doesn’t have any of the identified inherited faulty genes linked to cancer, the disease has struck many times in Suzanne’s family.

Her dad died of liver cancer, her mum suffered from breast cancer and lung cancer, her elder sister Maureen died after suffering from breast cancer and bone cancer and her younger sister has also battled breast cancer too.

She said: “I am a big believer in being fit and healthy and because I had lost the weight I feel that I was much stronger and fitter to fight this disease.

“During my chemotherapy I stopped going to the gym and put the weight back on again. Once I felt fit enough, I returned through the GP Referral programme and have lost the weight, got fit and have made so many really good friends.

“The team at the gym are great and are able to design a programme that suits you and are on hand to offer advice whenever you need it.”

GP Exercise Referral Programmes are public health sponsored schemes for adults aged 18 plus with specific medical conditions.

Suzanne believes the programme has helped her to become virtually pill-free. She has come off strong painkillers for a back injury, stopped her HRT and has seen her high dosage of blood pressure medication reduced to the bare minimum.

Suzanne’s dedication, determination and attitude to being healthy and active have not only improved her health, but also led her to win the Active 4 Health Award at the Lincolnshire Sport Awards 2014. During the glitzy awards ceremony, Suzanne got to rub shoulders with Winter Paralympic hero Jade Etherington who also collected the Sportswoman of the Year award and the prestigious Coveris Sports Personality of the Year.

Suzanne said sitting on a table with Jade and other winners at the ceremony was a huge inspiration. She added: “It was wonderful to meet Jade and all of the other nominees – truly inspiring.

“My advice to everyone is just get moving! Do whatever it is you can – whatever you like to do. It all makes a difference.

“Bring a friend with you, drag them along! It’s so much more fun if you’ve got someone to work out with. Even if you haven’t got someone, you will always make friends at the gym and in the classes and can then arrange to meet up. Everyone has been so friendly and helpful to me.”

The 67-year-old said: “We are all living for longer and I believe that if you are healthy and active you are able to fight disease and live for a few years longer – that’s time that you can spend with your grandchildren and family! We all need to get moving!”

Birchwood Leisure Centre is just one of many Active Nation Venues that run GP Referral Programmes in association with the NHS. To see if there’s a scheme running in your area, please have a chat with your GP.