HOW STEPHNEY DID IT WITH ROSEMARY CONLEY
Stephney Hornblow (64), 5ft 7in, lost 5st 7lbs to weigh 11st
I’d had an underactive thyroid for 15 years. The weight crept on until I was left gasping walking up hills. I had a GP appointment about a skin tag; as I was leaving I realised I’d been in denial so I spoke about my weight and breathlessness.
“My GP sent me for a hospital Rapid Assessment where I was diagnosed as morbidly obese, put on high blood pressure tablets, statins and aspirin. It was the biggest shock.”
A friend recommended www.rosemaryconley.com. “Being online was ideal; no one saw me and I didn’t have to say my weight.” Another friend began daily walks with Stephney – “We've been doing 3½ miles at 7am, rain or shine, for 2½ years. Only ice stops us.
“Then my son Jono, a racing cyclist, suggested a bike ride.” After ser vicing her old bike Jono planned a 1.4 mile route, building up to 3 miles. “Then I got a new bike and bought some Lycra!” says Stephney.
A year on, disappointed after a John O’Groats to Lands End charity walk fell through, Jono suggested they cycle it. “On his 29th bir thday I was buying him tyres in the cycle shop when he announced we were going to do it. ‘I’ll get you up the hills, Mum’, he said.”
After a year’s training for Steph they cycled 968 miles between September 23 and October 6, 2017, raising £7,000.