It’s not often college students get to undertake a work placement that they can honestly say is making a real difference to people’s lives.
But by combining their love of exercise and fitness with a compassionate ear, Ben and Livie are getting to do just that.
The Bede Sixth Form College students are working with University Hospitals Tees’ new prehabilitation service to help support those with cancer to get as fit as possible in preparation for treatment.
“It is an incredible feeling to know that you are helping and to see people’s fitness increasing,” said Ben, 17, of Stockton. “Already, I have seen cases where people have struggled to walk up just a few stairs in their first session to walking up easily in a matter of weeks.”
Studying sport and exercise science at Bede, Ben and Livie are well versed in the physical and mental benefits of exercise.
Now, working alongside the Stockton-based cancer prehabilitation team, they get to see and experience that in action.
The service was launched by the NHS hospital group earlier this year, with funding from the Northern Cancer Alliance. It aims to support people with cancer to get as fit as possible to help them cope with the physical and emotional demands of treatment.
The fitness sessions are delivered by the cancer prehabilitation team at Bede Sixth Form College’s sport centre and gym in Billingham. They are open to people across the Stockton and Hartlepool patches who are receiving NHS care.
The students help to carry out preliminary fitness tests and monitor progress and keep motivation up in the gym.
Hoping to ultimately go on to work in sports therapy, Livie, 17, of Billingham, said: “This has given me a real insight into what that is like and the impact it can have. I was nervous starting the placement, but everyone is lovely.”
Despite people’s individual diagnoses, the students agree that collectively the atmosphere is always upbeat with plenty of chat and laughs along the way.
Ben said: “Everyone is trying to help each other which makes it a really uplifting environment.”
Invited to attend the clinic, Tony Harrison, 72, has undergone treatment for tongue cancer. He said: “I love a challenge and have been active all my life. Before I was diagnosed, I used to enjoy skiing and cycling and would regularly do 25,000 steps a day.”
While treatment took the wind out of his sails for several months, he said the fitness sessions are now helping him rebuild his strength and “get back to my positive self”, helping him to cope physically and emotionally with whatever comes next.
Sam Wilks, 53, is preparing to undergo radiotherapy following surgery for breast cancer. Not much of a one for exercise before, she said: “I didn’t know what to expect from the sessions, but I thought I would give it a go and it’s been great. The team is wonderful and made me feel at ease. You meet all kinds of different people, but everybody seems to get on because we are all in the same boat.”
Tom Wing, cancer prehabilitation lead based at North Tees and Hartlepool hospital sites, said: “Research suggests that being fit and strong potentially reduces the likelihood of suffering significant adverse side effects following treatment.
“By delivering prehabilitation sessions out in the community, we hope to improve outcomes for patients and promote lasting healthy lifestyle habits.
“Getting the students involved felt like a win/win situation. It helps us as a team to offer more one-to-one support to patients, it benefits the students, giving them direct experience, and it benefits the patients that we are working with.”
Bede’s strategic manager of sport and enrichment, Ian Hewitt, said: “This is an incredible opportunity for our students and what an honour to gain meaningful experience supporting people going through what can be one of the most challenging experiences of their lives. To balance that support, motivation and compassion, shows a level of maturity and skill from our students that will set them in good stead in their future profession.”
