“I took up more physical exercise when I realised I was becoming more overweight, nearing 40, and older family members were starting to pass away too early. Bereavement spurred me on to exercise more as it gave me a focus to channel my feelings towards. I started exercising for myself and found it helped my mental health. I never went down the slippery slope of depression, and I put this all down to exercise. Friends, and colleagues noticed the enjoyment I was getting out of it, and wanted a piece of the action.

I now write a weekly blog of my exercise antics and it is posted on my work intranet called ‘Fit-Nurse Friday’. Another blog is sent to my local community emails. I have been recognised and people have told me how much they are benefitting on the ideas I write about. This gives me so much pleasure knowing I feel good, and I’m passing that feeling on to others. After the ‘Fit Nurse Friday’ post came out about my love for press ups at the top of each mountain I visit, the professor at work asked me to show him my press-up technique, in the middle of a ward round! The patient was very pleased this was about to happen.