New gym specialising in exercise classes for people with cancer opens in Glasgow

A gym specialising in exercise classes for people going through cancer treatment has opened in Glasgow.

The Revive Clinic was opened back in September by former radiographer Carol Devlin.

Carol’s mum had battled breast cancer, and she said they were often left confused about exercising during treatment.

She told STV News: “I saw the impact that going through treatment had on my mum and there was nothing really there available for her then.

“It was always my mission to create a space where people could come, be surrounded by people in a similar situation.

“We could exercise safely and effectively, but also improve their quality of life and improve the chances of their disease coming back in the future.”

Classes are free for people who have just received a diagnosis, are going through treatment and after treatment.

Kaitlyn Black was just 25 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

She had been an avid gym-goer before her diagnosis but said not being able to weightlift while undergoing chemo was “shattering”.

While undergoing treatment, she came across Carol’s clinic and has said it has helped bring back a sense of normality.

Revive gym is helping people being treated for cancer exercise and keep fit STV News

Kaitlyn said: “You lose yourself during a cancer diagnosis.

“It’s a way finding yourself again.

“It’s small things at a time like going for walks if you knew you liked walking, or if you liked weightlifting picking up the weights again, going back to the gym.

“It’s small things that people don’t realise that really make a difference.”

Kaitlyn has been coming to Revive since it opened alongside Nicole Lowther.

The pair met at a yoga class in a Maggie’s cancer centre.

Nicole was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma aged 17 in 2018. She relapsed last year after nearly five years in remission.

As part of her treatment, she underwent a stem cell transplant and was given a seven-month recovery time.

But she says Revive has helped her get back on her feet safely but quicker.

She said: “I hunted high and so low to find somewhere like this post treatment and it’s just amazing to get you back on your feet.

“I wish something like this had existed when I was going through my treatment because I think it would really help everyone.”

Carol also runs Revive Scotland, a gym offering small-group personal training sessions.

The membership of this gym is what fund the clinic to run its bi-weekly sessions.

Ken Jackson was diagnosed with liver cancer last year and was placed on the transplant list.

But his doctors told him he would need to get in shape to survive the surgery which could take between eight to 12 hours.

Carol’s been helping him over the last few months to step up his fitness.

He said: “They realise you’re not well and they keep an eye on you so if you’re doing an exercise that’s not good for you, they’ll stop you and give you an alternative and say do it this way.

“I found that over the 12 months I’ve improved so dramatically – I even got a gold star from the physiotherapist.”