George Schollar - North East

George Schollar (72) volunteers at one of the leisure centres in Gateshead and works alongside Council health professionals from the physical activity health team. He says‚ "I see so many people who have never been to a gym before - many are understandably anxious. I am here to help with hospital and GP patients as part of the exercise on prescription scheme.

"People attend as part of their rehabilitation. Some are suffering from diabetes or depression‚ and have been prescribed exercise as part of their therapy. Some attend as part of their weight loss programme. There is also a high percentage of coronary care patients."

Coronary care is something that George understands all too well. He recently found himself awaiting a heart bypass operation‚ and the experience leaves him able to empathise with people in the same position.

"They are so traumatised that many are terrified about taking regular positive exercise therapy - it can be so easy for them to degenerate into a state of cardiac apathy"‚ he says.

George’s aim as a Physical Activity Motivator is to identify new and apprehensive clients‚ and he is more than happy to chat about the situation he faced some months ago. "It’s all about encouragement and adopting physical activity as a life time habit‚ and if they come back week after week‚ I know that I’m doing a good job."

George is a determined man and his success story is positive proof that exercise has not only great physical benefits‚ but mental ones too.