Fitness fanatics raise funds for breast cancer unit

Local fitness company owner Rebecca Webster and business partner Sam Jensen-Martin have been fundraising for the Pink Rose Fund at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital and the Flag of Grimsby, a charity which supports children with special needs.

The pair took on the Woodhall Triathlon and raised £2,260 for the two charities through name cards, coffee mornings, raffle prizes and afternoon tea. It only took the fitness team four months to raise the total of which £1,080 will be donated to the Pink Rose Fund and £1,080 to Flag.

Training began in January for Rebecca, owner of Cleethorpes based Total Fitness. She said: “Even though it was the middle of June, it was so cold during the bike ride that when it came to the end I couldn’t move my fingers to just take off my helmet, I need help and of course that set my time back!”

Sam joined Total Fitness as an instructor just 18 months ago after being mentored as a member by Rebecca. Sam has lost six stone since she began her weight loss journey in 2007, when she weighed 17 stone.

The pair have been fundraising for years separately but in coming together this year they have raised more than ever before.

Sam also took part in a 100km bike ride to raise funds, and a triathlon was a particular challenge because she only started swimming in January this year.

Sam and Rebecca spoke of how important it is to raise money for local charities and both feel strongly that they are underfunded.

Rebecca said: “We are both local women who want to give back to our community, the community has been good to us, the women in our classes come every week without fail and they give us 100 per cent of their support.”

Sam talked about one woman in her class who had breast cancer: “She is just so strong, she might come in wearing a head scarf but she still has a big smile on her face and she still pushes herself to work hard. We’ve had many women with cancer in our classes over the years and they are such an inspiration.”

Advanced nurse practitioner Helen Lindley said: “We are so grateful for this wonderful donation, it is just fabulous and allows us to keep all our equipment up to date and provide the best services for the ladies who come here.”