Big Steps For Mary At Belong Crewe

At the age of 85, Mary Britcliffe has ditched her mobility scooter and walking aids thanks to a three-month gym programme at Belong Crewe care village that has transformed her life.

Mary, an apartment tenant at the care village since 2015, has required the use of both a walking frame and mobility scooter to assist with her day-to-day movement. She also lives with type 2 diabetes, and has taken medication to combat this for 20 years. Now, only three months into her personal fitness programme at the Belong Crewe gym, Mary can walk completely unaided and her doctor has reduced her diabetes medication, crediting her regular exercise with allowing her body to better control its insulin levels.

Zoë Robson, fitness instructor at Belong Crewe, said: “We are so proud of Mary for all of her hard work and perseverance. It’s amazing to think that in such a short space of time, she has gone from depending on walking aids to walking completely independently – even taking the stairs instead of the lift! I hope her story encourages people to realise that physical goals are always possible, no matter how old you are.”

Mary said: “I thought joining the gym at Belong would do me good, especially since it’s right on my doorstep. I definitely feel a lot healthier and more energetic than I used to, and I’m so grateful to Zoë for the incredible results.”