At the age of 77, Iris Forsythe, a sprightly, retired minister has a new career as a Physical Activity Motivator .

Yet Iris used to be unfit and overweight, has had two strokes, a heart attack and the dehabilitating bone disease, oeostoprosis as well as a host of other problems.

Her salvation came when she was referred by her doctor to the Live Active Exercise Scheme which provided her with a personally tailored programme of exercise.

The scheme was set up in 1997 by Culture and Sport Glasgow and the NHS, and provides a 12 month training programme for inactive people to help their health. So far more than 30,000 people have been referred by their GPs and physiotherapists. The aim is that they continue to be active after the end of their programme.

That was what happened with Iris. Now she is a volunteer Physical Activity Motivator based at Gorbals Leisure Centre. Iris told the LOCAL NEWS, ‘I am really pleased to have been through the programme.

‘As well as losing weight and getting fitter, I am able to inspire other people by telling them about my experiences. I would definitely recommend this to everyone.’

Another Motivator, based at Castlemilk Sports Centre, is Christine Daalman from Merrylee who has been with the scheme since November last year. She said, ‘When someone has been referred, they are given an assessment to determine their needs. We are not trained to do the exercises with them. But we are a point of contact for them if they are feeling shy or reluctant. We can sit in with them to keep them going. This is really worthwhile.’

Sport and Culture have also set up an 8 week First Steps taster session which lasts for an hour. This includes Tai Chi, Easy Exercise, Core Stability, Walking Gym Exercises and Aqua aerobics among other things. Classes run at Gorbals Leisure Centre, Castlemilk Sports Centre and Bellahouston Sports Centre.

For more information contact Mark Morrison the Exercise Referral Officer from Culture and Sport Glasgow. Telephone: 0141 287 9873.