A cardiac patient who was forced to give up his job when he suffered a heart attack has turned his life around to help others suffering from heart disease.
Paul Packard, from Chapeltown in Sheffield, had a heart attack in 2007 and now he has recovered from his ordeal, has pledged his time to a local heart support group.
In the months that followed his heart attack, the 61 year old visited his local gym at Concord Sports Centre to gradually introduce exercise into his life in order to regain the strength in his heart.
Paul, who lives with his wife and has two step-children, said: "As far as I was concerned my heart attack wasn't particularly a bad one, but the doctors definitely didn't agree! I gave up work to concentrate on my recovery and started gentle exercise again to help get back on my feet."
It was when he was at the gym at Concord that he saw a poster for the GP Referral Scheme, a 12-week course prescribed to patients who need exercise to tackle both low and high risk medical conditions, including heart disease. After visiting his GP, Paul, who also suffers from Type 2 diabetes, was introduced on the scheme, which saw him take part in fitness classes and specially tailored work-outs.
Paul, who worked in a care home before his heart attack, added: "Being on the GP Referral scheme not only gave me exercises tailored to my needs, but it also meant I was able to meet people who had been through a similar experience to me. That was just as important to me as learning about the exercises - it makes you realise you're not on your own."
"Once my 12-week course was over, I carried on going to the gym at Concord and when the Heart Support Group was created, I became involved as I wanted to help others going through what I had been through."
Paul recently played a part in securing £10,000 worth of funding for the Heart Support Group from the Lottery grants scheme, Awards for All, which will be used to fund a free gym membership project for children or dependents of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) sufferers at the award-winning Concord Sports Centre.
A total of 165 free 12-week gym memberships and education sessions will be available to the group, which is based at Concord, to help influence and reduce the other risk factors associated to CHD.
He was also recently involved in the organisation of a healthy heart day at Concord, which saw members of the public attend for further information and to register interest in the group's free fitness.
He added: "When you have a heart attack one of the first things you think is 'why me?', but by offering a support network we allow people to get together with others to share experiences and help them feel more positive about their recovery."
Paul also helps run a walking club for members of the heart support group and gym members who take part in the Silver Circuit exercise group. More than 20 people attend the walks each week and they have proved to be of huge benefit, not only helping to improve physical wellbeing, but also by giving people the chance to socialise with others who have been through a similar experience.
Dave Birds, exercise referral manager at Concord Sports Centre, said: "Paul is one of ten members of the heart support group committee who dedicate their time, for free, to ensure that those who have suffered ill health due to a heart attack or CHD get the best possible advice and support about how to improve their health and fitness.
"Paul's commitment to the cause is commendable and he is inspiring to those he helps and works alongside."
