Category: Active Suffolk I This Girl Can

Nichola Whymark

“Growing up I was extremely fit and active. I loved the way it made me feel and loved the competitive element too. I represented the school in running and badminton. Which I loved. Running and dancing were my staple ‘go to’ activities of choice. Every week I would take part in training or events. Winning trophies and keeping me occupied.

My parents are avid sports people, which meant that my three brothers and I followed suit. I was fit and active, training for the Brighton Marathon and weekly Zumba and Pilates classes right up to the day I was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer.

At the age of 36 my life was turned upside down. It was horrific. It was so hard going from an athletic person to little exercise whilst I had to concentrate on getting better. I walked as much as I could through chemo and when I could start running again, I did. And I was so proud. I started doing other activities and events too. Exercise, sport and activity played a massive part in my recovery and became a therapy and crucial aspect in my life. I linked it with a lot of fundraising too, competing in many different events for various charities.

I have now created Survive Be Alive. A project I hope will inspire anyone going through trauma and illness and encouraging people to live the life they aspire to live and be themselves. That all exercise and activity is awesome and to be celebrated. To focus on what you can do and not what you can’t.”

Find out how to become a This Girl Can Ambassador here – https://www.activesuffolk.org/this-girl-can

Active Suffolk I This Girl Can Humans of HIIT Mental Health University Workouts Classes

Sarah Ann Gray

“After graduating, I worked 6 days a week overseas and literally never found the time to exercise; any spare time I did have I was just exhausted & physically needed to rest. My diet was poor and to be honest, I lost my interest in boring exercise classes.

I once worked in a town where I didn’t know anyone, gained a few extra curves and hated the gym. Having heard about Zumba I finally decided to give it a whirl. As soon as the music began I loved it, a total party atmosphere and my hips started to move in ways I never knew they could! It didn’t matter to anyone, even the instructor, if I got the moves right or wrong; so long as I kept moving.

I began to make the time to fit at least two classes a week in, which really benefited not only my physical health, but also my mental health. I had become quite lonely in this new town. It made me feel good inside and out; building my body confidence. Whilst making new friends I toned up those curves & even learnt to love my chunky wobbly thighs (I OWN them!). I enjoyed shaking my jiggly bits and embraced the skin I’m in!

I worked beyond my fitness goals. Absolutely loving it, I decided to teach it myself. (It was just supposed to be a hobby!) This Girl Can Campaign encouraged me to help motivate others, girls and women just like me, into fitness. It’s important to find something that, quite simply, you enjoy doing. I now teach Zumba, Zumba Gold (modified low impact), Seated Zumba Gold, Aqua Zumba and Zumba Kids.

I also take the party to those who can’t get to it, with modified seated classes; having furthered my fitness education beyond qualifying as Level 2 Exercise to Music Fitness Instructor. I also specialise in working with older adults having trained in chair based exercise for older and frailer adults. I work with lots of students affected by dementia; music & movement are power tools.

I work with cancer patients too. It’s a real joy to bring smiles through inclusive dance fitness!

Zumba really is for everybody and every BODY! Different ages, shapes, sizes, abilities and goals; including fitness, weight loss, making new friends, socialising, even therapy for some! It’s a total judgement free zone, real people, real bodies, having a real good time losing ourselves in the music! Dancing, sweating, wiggling and giggling! Dance at your own pace, just keep MOVING & have Fun!

Since Covid-19 and lockdown, I have had to adapt my classes to teach online and now I’ve just begun classes outdoors; including my own toning class, Bumba Blast & women’s only Booty Camp!

My lifestyle is still quite hectic, but I’m healthy, positive and despite the normal highs and lows, I’m loving life!”

Active Suffolk I This Girl Can Family Female Humans of HIIT Mental Health Pregnancy School Sport

Gemma Marriage

“Growing up I always loved being out on my roller skates, sometimes whilst my brothers pulled me along from their BMX bikes! I basically wanted to be in Starlight Express! In school I hated PE, I wasn’t popular and didn’t enjoy any of the activities offered, so I didn’t really get involved in sport.

Fast forward to 2012, I moved to Suffolk to support my husband who unfortunately lost his life to cancer. Finding myself far away from friends and family but needing a support network I reminisced about my childhood roller skates and decided to try out for the local roller derby team.

I was instantly hooked! It’s a full contact team sport, and I love that I can take out all my stress by hitting other people on skates, but it’s also very tactical, so every training session I can lose myself thinking about strategy and gameplay, giving me a chance to switch off from real life.

Eight years on, I still skate at least once a week. We are not able to play competitively at the moment due to coronavirus, so I’m going back to my roots and taking my wheels outside. Right now I’m taking part in a virtual roller marathon, raising funds for a community skating project.

In 2019 I gave birth to my son, and now I’m finding toddler friendly ways that I can skate. Skating was great exercise physically through pregnancy and brilliant for my mental health during the post-natal period. Through derby I have many new friends for life, skating has had a massive positive boost for both my mind and body!”

Active Suffolk I This Girl Can Family Female Humans of HIIT Mental Health Personal Trainers Physical Impairment Running School Sport University

Claire Jones

“I have always enjoyed sport although I wasn’t the best at typical school sports like netball and hockey. I gave them a go but was never good enough to make the teams. I always wanted to do the typical boys sports.. football, cricket. I’ve always loved running and cross country and did that through my teens.

At uni I met a couple of girls who played football. I joined the women’s football team and loved it. After uni I carried on playing football and got my coaching badges. I kept running and going to the gym to keep fit.

After I had my daughter I gave up coaching as it took up too much time with a young family. I still tried to keep fit by running and going to the gym. I then started to suffer with a bowel condition..

In 2012 I was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with chronic ulcerative colitis. My only form of treatment was to have my bowel removed. I was given a permanent ileostomy which saved my life. As I recovered I wanted to get fit again.. I set myself targets.. events or distances I wanted to achieve, whether it was a distance or a strength goal. I’m now fitter and stronger then ever. My ileostomy has given me life.. I am determined to live every minute. I go to the gym, have run 2 half marathons, regularly run 5 and 10ks, I have done a duathlon and I cycle.

Keeping fit and active is a privilege, it helps me feel better and allows me to spend time with my daughter when we are out running or cycling together!”

Active Suffolk I This Girl Can Female Humans of HIIT Physical Impairment Running School

Claire Smith

“I hated sport at school. It was a mixture of being forced to do it & undiagnosed arthritis, asthma & Crohns Disease. After having my first child I slowly started to become more active & found it had a physical benefit to my medical conditions. I was reaping the rewards of physical activity & began to enjoy it.

16 years on, I’ve taken part in many obstacle races & raised money for charity. I’ve gained qualifications & used them to help others improve their health too. I’ve had 10 surgeries & waiting for more. I am also a full time carer for my daughter, so I understand it’s not always easy or possible. Sometimes walking round the kitchen multiple times whilst I wait for the kettle to boil has to do. It’s a great stress reliever too.”

Active Suffolk I This Girl Can Female Humans of HIIT Mental Health School Sport University

Charlotte Ditchburn

“I was always active and outdoorsy as a child, part of the school orienteering team, competing to a regional level with the athletics team in high jump and enjoying horse riding whenever I could fit it in. I then went to University and events here led to me being diagnosed with PTSD and I suffered with depression and anxiety.

The outdoors and being active has really helped me to recover from this and get back onto my feet again. I used hill walking in the Lake District to find some head space away from the day to day craziness. I went from couch potato to walking everyday, not always summiting mountains but making sure to make time for a short walk everyday.

As I recovered and began a new job in Suffolk I rediscovered my love of riding my bike. I have recently bought a hybrid bike allowing me to enjoy road biking as well as venturing off onto the local bridleway and byway network to give me a change of scene. As my fitness levels have increased I noticed a real difference in my mental well being, I am much happier and feel more awake and productive each day.”

Active Suffolk I This Girl Can Female Humans of HIIT Running

Angela Soames

“I’ve never been sporty and don’t consider myself to be – I laugh when my friends call me that!

But after trying out lots of different sports in adulthood, I finally found that I like running.

It has given me the confidence to do things without worrying about what other people think and also not to compare myself to anyone else, but just to go out and do what I enjoy.

I’ve found that I enjoy challenging myself, even if it is just a small one it keeps me going when sometimes you just want to be lazy.

I’ve recently started wild swimming and enjoying the joy of being in the water, in nature, no pressure just going with the flow – i’m also liking how my body and mind feels afterwards.