Chris’s Story – Health & Wellbeing

“I’m off painkillers and I can move so much more easily – I don’t even need my walking stick anymore.”

In 2022, Chris Chellew, 69, was recovering from breast cancer treatment when she slipped by the side of a swimming pool and fractured her spine. This was the start of a long and painful period of recovery. Last year, she also had a hip replacement, leaving her reliant on a walking stick to get around.

“I felt 90 years old,” says Chris. “I was hobbling around, in a lot of pain and taking loads of painkillers. I also needed to lose some weight.”

Just six months after joining YMCA East Surrey, Chris’ life looks very different.

Chris was referred to us by her physiotherapist through our Exercise Referral programme, funded by NHS Surrey Heartlands Health & Care Partnership, which helps people with health conditions become more active. She began attending our Health and Wellbeing services and has since taken part in several courses. These are all designed to improve mobility and delivered under the guidance of our qualified instructors.

She started with Healthy Measures, a 10-week weight management programme providing people with the skills and motivation to eat healthily and improve their lifestyle. Each session combines 20 minutes of tailored exercise with group-based learning on topics like portion sizes, calorie awareness and food labelling.

“The exercises are all adapted to suit me and my ability,” says Chris. “Things like gentle cardio, stretching with bands and mobility work. A lot of things I never thought I’d be able to do.”

Each week also includes a private weigh-in to help participants track their progress. Chris has lost a stone and a half so far, and has now built enough strength and confidence to join a wide range of other classes at YMCA. This includes Active Wellness, which supports people back into exercise; Moving Together, which focuses on strength and balance; and Tai Chi which helps with stress relief.

“At first, my fitness was very poor,” says Chris. “But I’ve built myself up. Now I do a 45-minute fitness class before Healthy Measures even starts. At the beginning I was worried it would be all young people in Lycra and mirrors everywhere, but it’s not like that at all. YMCA is inclusive of all shapes, sizes and ages. The instructors know my health history and always keep an eye on me to make sure I’m doing everything correctly. I feel looked after. The best part is, I’m off painkillers and I can move so much more easily – I don’t even need my walking stick anymore.”

Chris’ physical transformation has been matched by a shift in how she feels about herself.

“I can’t tell you how much it has changed not just my body, but my mental health too,” explains Chris. “When you’re in pain, it wears you down and you feel miserable. And when you get to my age, you can feel a bit invisible. Now, I feel seen. I’m active, I’m not in pain and that makes a huge difference.”

Living on her own, it’s been important for Chris to meet new people and feel part of a community. She says: “People here know my name. They chat to me – from the receptionist, to the instructors and other members. I’ve made new friends and I have a lovely new community here.”

Ruth Crosby, Health Promotion Coordinator for YMCA East Surrey, says: “Chris’ progress has been incredible. She’s completely overhauled her lifestyle and made lasting changes. Exercise is now something she genuinely enjoys and she’s active every day. When Chris first joined, she was quite reserved, but now she’s cheerful, smiling and full of confidence. It’s been wonderful to see that transformation. She’s not only built her own routine, but is now encouraging others too, sharing tips with the group and bringing her friends along to our mainstream classes. She really is a ray of sunshine.”

Through the programme, Chris has also learned practical ways to take control of her health every day.

“I’ve made simple changes, like swapping my cappuccino for an americano and weighing out cereal properly,” says Chris. “Exercise and healthy eating have become part of my daily life. It’s second nature now. When the course ends, I know I’ll be able to manage things on my own.”

Chris is working towards her goal of losing another half a stone, “little by little”. But for her, the real success is how she feels.

“My friends have noticed the difference,” explains Chris. “They say it’s the way I hold myself. I’m more confident, much brighter and more cheerful. All the things I thought I’d never be able to do again, like having a holiday abroad and walking around places like Seville or Madrid, I can do all that now. It’s amazing.”