Wednesday, 25th May 2016
One of our loyal gym members has proved the impossible can be achieved with determination and the support of one of our Personal Trainers.
Tony Robinson has gone from scoffing burgers and bitter, to never being fitter! And last month completed a gruelling and staggering 725 mile personal challenge.
He said: “To achieve a goal like this would have seemed impossible six years ago. Exercise has changed my life and I would like to thank family, friends and the team at Pendle Leisure Centre for helping me all the way on my fitness journey.”
He joined our Exercise Consultant John Bannister on his Ben To Ben Challenge, which involved walking and cycling from Ben Nevis in Scotland to Big Ben in London!
Tony, a gym member at Pendle Leisure Centre in Colne, was at John’s side every step of the way as they climbed the three highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales, cycling from one to the next. They started with the trek up Ben Nevis, then cycled 250 miles to Scafell, climbed that before cycling another 250 miles to Snowdon and climbed that before cycling a further 200 miles to London.
Tony was first introduced to Pendle Leisure Trust in 2011 through the Healthy Lifestyles Team. He was an overweight smoker who had been diagnosed with depression and his lifestyle and non-existent exercise regime were the main culprits for this.Paul Whittaker, Centre Manager at Pendle Leisure Centre in Colne, said: “Tony has taken full advantage of the support, knowledge and expert advice on offer from our Fitness Team and this has taken him a long way during his transformation. He has shown unbelievable commitment, guts and determination that was an essential ingredient to his success.”
Tony has gone from re-gaining his self-confidence and completing his first Triathlon, to smashing goal after goal after goal.
So far, with the help and support from Pendle Leisure Trust staff, he has completed two Coast to Coast cycle rides, a number of Tough Mudders and Pendle Triathlons, Rossendale Triathlon, The Yorkshire 3 Peaks and The National 3 Peaks.
Paul added: “Tony has been inspiring members in our gym for a number of years and become a real head of the Pendle Leisure Trust Family. We love to see success stories such as this. We like to think we are more than just a gym, we are a family and Tony is proof of that, he’s a true inspiration to every member that walks through our doors.”