“I saw my friends and how they were continuing with life. I thought to myself, I couldn’t just opt out and stay as I was.” – Ollie, Aged Sixteen, Project PB-Active Participant
This quote sums up the raw honesty in every one of Ollie’s answers he provided for this case study. That’s why, wherever possible, he’ll tell the story of what he went through with us on the PB-Active programme in his own words.
“My treatment was particularly intense due to six months of rigorous chemotherapy.”
“The first two cycles were especially challenging, causing severe physical pain in my mouth and digestive tract. Strong painkillers left me in a mentally dark place due to the feeling of zoning out.”
” I was no longer eating and needed nutrients fed directly into my blood. I lost around 12kg. The next cycle caused my legs to have severe neuropathy, affecting my central and peripheral nervous systems. I lost sensation, leaving me unable to walk.”
“Before the next cycle, I was making good progress in restoring my walking ability, but after the chemotherapy, I was left unable to walk again. Post-treatment, I was left severely immunocompromised, which significantly affected my mental health, requiring immense support and lowering my self-esteem.”
“I had to be completely out of school for around six months and was unable to continue drumming as I was too weak and my legs wouldn’t work. I used a practice pad to keep some level of hand coordination.”
“My friends were incredible, visiting me multiple times every week and keeping in close contact via my phone. They brought me gifts and chatted to me whenever I felt strong enough.”
“I saw my friends and how they were continuing with life. I thought to myself, I couldn’t just opt out and stay as I was.”
“My mum and I discovered Momentum Fitness Charity during my stay in hospital. We had a visit from Kelcie, who gave me some exercises I could do in my room to keep me active. I found them helpful, and this is how I found out about Momentum for post-treatment reconditioning.”
“I was concerned at the level my body had deteriorated in terms of my physical fitness, but I wanted to feel myself again. I knew I would have to work hard to gain back everything I had lost.”
“I was mostly excited with a little bit of nerves walking in for the first time. I felt ready and very motivated, putting in 100% of what strength I had at the time.”
Kelcie, our lead exercise therapist, was there to welcome Ollie to his very first session and remembers exactly where he was starting from.
“Ollie started a little timid and unsure about himself but seemed eager to push himself and regain his stamina. His balance and coordination were severely lacking which caused some confidence issues.” – Kelcie, Lead Exercise Therapist
“That first session was particularly inspiring. I found the benchmarking process helpful in finding where I was at. From there, I was able to set targets to work towards.”
“I felt really welcomed. Kelcie was interested in my case, adapting all my sessions to suit my ability. Even though my coordination was not great, Kelcie ensured I could still use the weights by choosing specific exercises I could do at the time.”
“I was surprised how much I was pushed. A concern was that I would be discouraged to go too hard as I was a post-cancer patient. However, I really liked that I was pushed more and more, building my endurance.”
“I had a moment when I felt like I was beginning to get fitter. I noticed my stamina increasing and my frame looked stronger. I started to feel much more confident. Coming out of treatment, I was very thin, but after the sessions, I felt bigger and stronger.” – Ollie
“Every single week you could see improvements in Ollie both mentally and physically, which really speaks to the kind of person he is. He is one of the most thoughtful, determined young men I’ve had through the programme thus far! He is doing so many exercises and using weight he never would have dreamed of using only a few months ago” – Kelcie
” Kelcie has been fundamental in my recovery. My coordination has drastically improved. I can now walk and run again.” – Ollie
Six months of brutal chemotherapy.
Helplessly watching on as his friends continued with their lives.
Painkillers that helped him with the pain but sent his mind somewhere dark.
Ollie stopped eating. Lost 12kg. Lost the ability to walk.
He started to get it back again only for another cycle of treatment to take it away again.
He was out of school for six months and couldn’t play the drums he loved because his legs were too weak.
This is what Ollie endured before he even walked through the doors at Momentum Fitness Charity for his very first session.
And the strength of character he needed just to show up.
Every person involved in Ollie’s recovery feels fortunate to have witnessed how far he has come since then. Especially his mum, who watched on during every session.
“For me it was so emotional as it was symbolic of how far he had come.”
“Oliver sometimes gets overwhelmed — at first I think that was by a loss of confidence and now by fear as he has been through so much. However, I notice that even if he is in a low mood before a session, by the end of it his mood has lifted and he feels positive, which is a joy to see for me as a parent. I often have a tear as I watch him.” – Louise, Ollie’s mum
Ollie’s first sessions were held in a private studio inside the gym. Every surface had to be wiped down before he arrived. His compromised immune system left him too vulnerable for anything less.
He trained alone. Away from noise. Away from people, because for a long time, that was the only way it could be safe.
But a decision he made not to just “opt out” drove him on.
Today, Ollie trains on the gym floor. Alongside everyone else.
“Ollie is slowly regaining his fitness and also now has confidence to go for a run and even play football and padel with his friends — something we could not have imagined him doing again in May/June last year when he lost the power and sensation in his legs due to treatment.” – Louise
An impact story like Ollie’s lies behind every single PB-Active attendee at Momentum Fitness Charity. We’re only able to create these opportunities thanks to continued funding and donations. To support our work, please visit our donations page to make a one-off or monthly contribution. The difference it makes is genuinely life changing.