Paula Hickford, Founder
“I was a national news journalist and feature writer when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. When I discovered I was ill, suddenly my life was full of uncertainty. The only thing I knew definitely was that I needed to keep my body strong. I had always enjoyed exercise and turned to a team of fitness experts for advice. I cleaned up my diet and exercised as often as possible, allowing my body to rest whenever necessary. I was training to climb Mount Snowdon when I received my diagnosis. That trip was put on hold, to allow me to cope with chemotherapy. It was resurrected and completed as the first stage of my treatment drew to a close. After a year, I climbed Britain’s biggest mountain, Ben Nevis, with a group of amazing friends. A few days after my return, I received another monthly chemotherapy infusion. For the first time, I smiled as I entered the ward.
“Nutrition and regular training weren’t just good for my physical health, they helped me cope when I had to tell my husband and children, when I watched my friends cry and when I faced surgery. They gave me a positive focus away from cancer, helped me look beyond my condition and to the future.
“In 2015, I qualified as a personal trainer and created Fitter Stronger retreats to motivate others and work with all abilities, from beginners to athletes.
“My retreats always include targeted exercise classes, a nutrition workshop and many more activities, delivered by my expert team. Motivational speakers at my retreats have included Olympian James Cracknell, newsreader and cancer survivor Sian Williams, best selling author St John Greene and channel swimmer Sarah Philpott. And there is always time to reflect, reset and recharge.
“Since Fitter Stronger’s inception, I have worked with hundreds of of clients, at retreats, with personal training in person and online, and at my classes.
“Watching the transformation of clients, mentally and physically, as they find confidence in their bodies, has lead to my work with private and NHS hospitals, with my prehab and rehab programme, Revive, assisting patients as they prepare for and recover from their treatment pathway. This is, and always has been, complimentary.
“To further ensure my Fitter Stronger message can be accessed by as many as possible, I wrote a book. Fitter Stronger – Resilience – If You’re Going Through Hell, Keep Going, is a practical guide to explain why exercise and nutrition are vital tools for mental and physical strength.
“I’m very proud of Fitter Stronger in all it’s forms. My message is simple.
“Keep your mind and body strong and you’ll achieve far more than you think possible.”
