Soldier sets up new gym to get people fighting fit
ASOLDIER dedicated to fitness all his life has started a gym to help people in his home town get fit.
Theo Louis Williams, 25, has been involved in sport since he was a child and studied Sports Science at Bangor University.
After leaving university he signed up to serve as a reconnaissance trooper with the Welsh Cavalry.
It was here that he saw the positive impact getting fit could have on self confidence.
This inspired him to set up Fitness Hub in Llanrwst last year.
Theo said: “I have been in sport and fitness all my life as my parents were into this.
“I studied sports science at university and went to the Army so fitness has always been part of my life.
“In the Army though I saw people come in who were initially pretty unfit.
“As they got fitter in the Army I saw how their self-confidence was transformed and what a difference it made to them.
“I wanted to make a difference in the community where I come from.
“Llanrwst, like many other areas, has lost a lot in recent years, like the banks which have all closed.
“I wanted to bring something there and help make the community fitter and healthier.“
He started up last October, with Scott Thomas the full time trainer assisted by Theo’s brother Zach, and he has been amazed at the response.
He said: “I can’t believe the support we have had from the community of Llanrwst, this is a small rural town but the response has been incredible. It shows that there is demand in communities like this for services like we offer.”
He has had 130 people use the gym with 60 now signed up as regular members.
He said: “This is not just a gym where people turn up, put their headphones on, and leave at the end, there is a real social side. Most people stay behind after sessions for a chat.
“As with the Army the biggest difference I have seen has been in peoples’ self-confidence.
“When people feel fitter and healthier their confidence levels go up. It is good to see and I like putting something back into the community.”
He remains in the Army and sees this as an ideal venture to take on full-time after he leaves.
He said: “There are not many transferable skills from the role I am m doing in reconnaissance unless you u want to be a private eye!
“So the gym gives me a business I can go into when I do leave and it is really good knowing I will have something to go straight into.”