When John Paul Grayson and his wife, Deborah, made the move from Sheffield to Sutton on Sea four years ago, they were looking for a fresh start.
What John Paul didn’t expect was how transformative that change would become — not just for his health, but for his confidence, wellbeing and the lives of those around him.
After spending nearly two decades working for the NHS as a pathology technician, John Paul was ready for a new chapter.
“I worked in the mortuary for 19 years,” he explained. “I did all the post-mortems and viewings and things like that. During COVID, I just got burnt out. I used to joke with my wife saying, ‘I’m going out of here feet first on a stretcher.’ So, we decided to just get out.”
After a few years living on the Lincolnshire coast, John Paul was referred to Magna Vitae by his GP through One You Lincolnshire’s Exercise Referral Scheme. “My doctor referred me because of diabetes, high blood pressure, and PTSD,” he said. “I came here, had my induction, and just cracked on. I got addicted to it! Before my 12 weeks were even up, I’d already signed up for a full year.”
Finding focus and community
These days, John Paul trains regularly at our Magna Vitae venue in Mablethorpe, Station Leisure & Learning Centre — spending time in the gym on his days off and attending supported swim sessions. “I do a mix of free weights and cardio,” he said. “My body still thinks I’m 17, but my mind goes, ‘No, don’t be silly!’”
It’s not just about the physical gains for John Paul — though those have been remarkable. He’s lost around three stone, reduced his diabetes and cholesterol levels and built a new sense of confidence. But what John Paul values most is the improvement of his mental health “I feel a lot better for it,” he smiled. “It’s helped me a lot with my mental health and my PTSD. If I’m having a bad day, I just come and lift some extra weight or spend an extra 10 minutes on the treadmill. You always feel better after.”
He has also found a sense of community at the gym. “You see regular faces, have a quick chat, and if you’re not sure how to do an exercise, people come over and show you. I was surprised how friendly everyone is here. It’s a really nice community.”
Inspiring others…
John Paul’s journey hasn’t just changed his own life — it’s inspired others too. Through his work at Linkage, a charity supporting people with learning disabilities, he’s encouraged several of the residents to start their own fitness journeys.
“I talk to them about what I’m doing, and they started saying, ‘Oh, I want to go and try it!’” he said. “Now there’s about a dozen of them that come to the gym. I bring one of the lads once a week and we do a little workout plan together. His parents have noticed a big difference in his confidence.”
He laughed, “They’ve even picked up my sarcastic sense of humour — I’ve had to apologise to their parents a few times!”
In this together!
John Paul’s wife, Deborah, who has been through her own health challenges after being diagnosed with a rare cancer four years ago, has also been enjoying the facilities in Mablethorpe whilst in remission. She attends the Fighting Fit sessions held here in The Signal Box, a cancer rehabilitation group run by Lincoln City Foundation.
They also attend supported swim sessions together to help with mobility and strength something that’s become especially important to John after years of physical strain from his time in the Army, playing football and his career as a pathology technician. John comments, “When I first started, I’d actually forgotten how to swim,” he admitted with a grin. “I sank quicker than the Titanic! But once I got into it, I started using it for physio on my shoulders and knees, and it’s really helped.”
Recently, John Paul’s efforts were recognised when he became a finalist in the Active Change category at the Active Lincolnshire Sports & Physical Activity Awards. The nomination came as a complete surprise.
“I got in from work and my wife said, ‘I’ve got something to tell you — I’ve nominated you for an award,’” he recalled. “I didn’t think I’d done anything special, but then I got the email saying I was a finalist. I did get a bit emotional.”
Now, as he prepares for the awards evening, John Paul is reflecting on how far he’s come — and what he’s gained along the way. “In my mind, I don’t think I’ve done anything special. I’ve just got up and done something. But if it helps inspire someone else to take that first step, then that’s worth it.”
His advice to anyone thinking about improving their health or mental wellbeing is simple:
“Get out and give it a go. The hardest part is that first step. Once you make it, you’ll be surprised how much fun it is. People think gyms are intimidating, but here it’s not like that — everyone’s just here to improve themselves and have a laugh.”
From burnout to balance, from supporting others to being recognised for his own achievements, John Paul Grayson’s story is a reminder that change can be the start of something incredible.
If you want to show your support, you can vote for John Paul for the People’s Choice award at the Active Lincolnshire Awards. Click the link below! We wish him all the best at the awards evening on 6th November 2025.
