Fighting back after cancer
‘‘Gyms weren’t my thing. Boxing gyms maybe.
‘‘Going into the gym seeing these young guys, and even guys older than me, throwing all these weights around, I wouldn’t have even been able to look at.
‘‘I still can’t go near them, but I can do what’s good for me thanks to Tyson.’’
He says he owes Tyson and the Cancer Society a lot.
‘‘I’m still not 100 per cent fit but, thanks to Tyson, he’s pushed me to the limit and I enjoy being pushed, I go home feeling good.
‘‘The work that he’s doing with me, it’s not just improving my physical health but mentally too. Mentally I’m feeling good and strong and positive.’’
‘‘It has given me my self confidence back.’’
Having had the success with Thomas, Tyson is now forging ahead with developing the programme for others in a similar situation.
With the cost of hiring a trainer prohibitive for some, Tyson’s vision is that participants referred to him by the Nelson Cancer Society wouldn’t have to pay for their trainer or membership.
The programme was designed to be 12 weeks, one session a week, with follow-up support once the client is back on their feet.
‘‘Then the idea is to try to expand it and bring in trainers who want to give back and help people through such a traumatic event in their life.’’
‘‘Simple but effective training with a focus on after training as well.’’
Tyson says that because people have different cancers, different chemotherapy and different backgrounds, there’s more quality in working with one person at a time.
‘‘A lot of people are already self conscious because of their illness, there’s no point putting them in a situation where they could feel worse.
‘‘One-on-one could get them comfortable to the point where they can continue on their own, with guidance if they need it.’’
Results Gym owner Brad Josse has thrown his support behind the programme, but says Tyson has been the main driver of it right from the start.
And he’s been impressed with the results.
‘‘When Tyson first started working with Thomas I went to South America, so I didn’t get to see a lot of him in the early days. But I did see what he looked like and he was so thin.
‘‘When I came back he was like a totally different person. I didn’t recognise him.
‘‘His demeanour and the way he carried himself, he was a person with confidence and a person who felt he had a lot to offer.’’
Brad says exercise can help boost the immune system, but it’s also about getting people’s confidence back.
‘‘Getting them comfortable using their body again and finding what their limits are rather than being told what their limits are by someone else.’’
He says the aim has been to put something in place to help people so they don’t feel like victims, they don’t feel helpless.
‘‘Give people some direction and support and a programme that’s been built for them rather than just being told to do something or not do anything.
‘‘We want people to come in and feel good about themselves.’’
Tyson has presented the idea at a few different support groups and already six people have signed up for the pilot programme.
‘‘There seems to be quite a bit of excitement around it.’’