Tottenham Hotspur gym sessions for cancer patients

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The teenage player joined in light exercises at Tottenham Community Sports Centre, across the road from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in High Road.

His visit came after the programme was shortlisted for this year’s Sports Business awards.

“The work that Spurs does in the community is fantastic,” he said. “Helping the community is important for me — I always think I’d want my club to be there if a family member needed support.”

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The programme of physical activity sessions is run for people from the north London boroughs of Haringey, Enfield and surrounding areas who have had a cancer diagnosis in the last five years.

It runs one-to-one and group sessions as well as online, tailored according to the needs of each person, exercising with light equipment such as dumbbells and resistance bands.

Those taking part are also referred to open gym classes, yoga sessions and other group activities.

Spurs supporter Joanna Ashmore, who joined after surgery and immunotherapy for bowel cancer, is among those currently taking part.

She revealed: “The side effects from my treatment have lasted way longer than the treatment itself and my body’s changed beyond belief.

“But I’m already starting to see changes thanks to this programme. It’s everything I’ve wanted because activities are tailored for me.”

Another cancer survivor taking part is Angela Epps, who also met Gray.

Angela, who had pre-breast cancer but has now been given the ‘all clear’, said: “This programme has been helpful to push me in a safe environment. I found sessions quite tiring at first but we’ve built up slowly by tailoring something that’s right for me.”

The programme runs more than 1,000 tailored sessions every year and the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation claims they bring an uplifting effect for those taking part, whatever the future holds for them.

They aim to improve people’s physical ability to move by helping to maintain and strengthen their muscles and creating positive habits to assist their long-term treatment.