Angmering cancer group united in effort to beat disease

Cancer United, which was only given charitable status in February this year, has launched a £50,000 fundraising appeal to help get its innovative fitness project off the ground.

The organisation will be setting up a bespoke rehabilitation service, based in Station Road, Angmering, to offer cancer patients a chance to improve their overall fitness and get back on their feet after operations and treatment.

Jan Sheward, founder of the charity, has been through cancer and knows just how vital exercise and a strong support network can be for those recovering from the condition.

“I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008,” she said. “At the time, I was the head of a food management company.

“My diagnosis came at a time when banks were really struggling. This was really the trigger for me to lose everything, including my home.

“I managed to beat cancer but what I saw going through my treatment was a lot of lonely people that really needed emotional support to get them through things.”

Jan, 69, retrained as a life coach and has been using her skills to help cancer patients across the Gazette area.

The new C U Fitter rehabilitation centre will act as a purpose-built gym, with small groups coming together to use the facility – which will be based in a converted two-storey garage that has been gifted to the charity by Jan’s son-in-law, Martin Plummeridge.

Jan said she already has the support of two expert personal trainers, Dwayne Clevett and Nathan Da Costa, who will be offering personalised fitness routines to clients.

The charity is already testing its exercise classes during 40-minute group sessions at its base in Wick Hall, Wick Street, Wick.

She said: “From the moment your doctor says to you: ‘I’m terribly sorry, you have cancer’, everything that you know as normal disappears and what replaces it, what becomes normal, are the hospital visits, the treatments and everything related to it.”

Jan added: “Some people can become very nervous of visiting traditional gyms and leisure centres.

“The classes that we offer are really fun. It’s a support network that you wouldn’t get. Plus, you are being trained by two of the most highly-qualified instructors in the country.”

Those wishing to help donate to the charity are being urged to visit www.igg.me/at/cufitter

For the full story, see this week’s Gazette (Thursday, September 4).