Strength in Support: Paul’s journey

At Magna Vitae Trust for Leisure & Culture, we’re fortunate to welcome a diverse range of customers into our facilities, but some stories truly stand out...Paul is one such individual whose remarkable journey from a challenging diagnosis to significant transformation highlights his extraordinary resilience.

Paul’s journey began with a tough diagnosis…Over 6 years ago, he was told he had Progressive Peripheral Motor Neuropathy, a genetic condition caused by the HNPB1 gene fault. This condition slowly breaks down the protective layer around his nerves, disrupting the signals from his brain to his muscles. This dramatically affected his mobility, leading him to become reliant on using a powered wheelchair as he was unable to walk.

Not only did it affect him physically it also had a huge impact on his mental state. He no longer felt confident and didn’t want to leave the house.

“Being in a wheelchair you can socially isolate yourself. You don’t want to go out you don’t want people to see you. You cut yourself off from yourself, off from your friends, you stop answering the phone and going out…”

At 24 stone and having been out of work for a while, Paul decided to take back control of his life. He became a member at our venue in Skegness, just before the Covid pandemic, aiming to get fitter and lose some weight. With the guidance of Lifestyle Consultants, George and Dave, Paul began his fitness journey. Fast forward two and a half years, and Paul’s transformation is nothing short of amazing…

He’s shed 10 stone and gained two and a half stone of muscle. More importantly, Paul has now gotten himself to a point where he doesn’t need his chair anymore. He now uses sticks or carbon fibre supports to walk.

Paul’s determination to adapt has been key to his success, finding ways to build and maintain strength. From heavy lifting with grip straps to modifying exercises to fit his needs, Paul has shown incredible ingenuity in overcoming obstacles. “If I don’t train, I get miserable and mardy!” Paul admits...Exercise has become crucial not just for his physical health but for his mental well-being. What’s more, Paul has embraced the gym community with open arms.

“If someone new joins the gym, I make a point to go over and encourage them. When I started…it was terrifying!”

The gym has become more than a place to work out…It’s a place where Paul has built meaningful friendships. He’s developed a close bond with staff members, Dave (Lifestyle Consultant) and Andrew (Duty Manager). For Dave’s birthday, they went Go-Karting—a highlight for Paul, who hadn’t had a night out with friends in years. “We’re all inseparable now,” Paul says. “The staff don’t just do their job; they genuinely care.”

Andrew Sherlock, Duty Manager at Skegness Pool & Fitness Suite and now a close friend of Paul’s had this to say about him,

“It has been great to get to know Paul, see his incredible journey and now call him a friend. He is an inspiration to others and just a great guy”.

Paul’s journey isn’t over yet. He knows he might eventually need to use a wheelchair again, but he’s determined to do so with a “fortress” of muscle he’s built through his hard work in the gym. Reflecting on his journey, Paul says,

“It is one of the best things I have ever done. I wish I had done it years before when I first got diagnosed. Now it has changed my life”

Paul’s story is a powerful reminder that with determination, perseverance, and the right support, incredible transformations are possible. His journey shows that even in the face of challenges, we can find strength, rebuild confidence, and reconnect with life.

“There is no cure for what I have got, it is just going to get progressively worse…But I am here 6/7 days a week, I am up at 4am every morning and I am down here training for 2 to 3 hours…You don’t have to go to those sorts of extremes, but it is just about turning up.”

#SeriouslySocial #PeopleAboveProfit

Community Leisure UK