A 74-year-old Alsager resident who describes the leisure centre as her 'security blanket' will be doing three classes tomorrow – National Fitness Day.

Plucky Gillian Pullen, a breast cancer survivor, who has been a member at Alsager Leisure Centre for around 20 years, joined after wanting support to do a marathon.

Always into her fitness, Gillian signed up and has been using Alsager Leisure Centre ever since.

"I will be doing my three classes with instructor Louise Fox tomorrow," she said.

"My gym buddies and Louise have supported me through my breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

"They visited and sent messages during my treatment which encouraged me to return ASAP. I have made many friends and love all the classes."

Members were so supportive, Gillian received flowers and gifts from her friends at the leisure centre and a card which said, "from all your gym buddies."

Breast cancer survivor, Gillian Pullen, loves her gym classes.

Six weeks after surgery, Gillian went back and did aqua aerobics and after that she built it up from there, fitting in extra classes whenever she can.

"When I came back they cheered," said Gillian.

"It is nice when you come up and see regular people, spend the first 10 minutes chatting.

"When you go out in the town afterwards, you see people and you go and have a coffee, so all these people are an extended group of friends, that I wouldn't have made unless I came here.

"Especially when you are retired and you can be isolated, you have got to make the effort to do something, so this for me is my sanity, I think. My security blanket."

Gillian has supported many people at Alsager Leisure Centre, from connecting with customers who were very nervous about doing anything, supporting new members to feel welcome and included, encouraging customers to give things a try and supporting a customer with getting set up on the online booking portal.

"Because you meet similar people with similar interests within a group and support each other to get the best out of the activity that you are doing and not take it too seriously," she said.

"It's like if you do a Zumba class where she says turn right and we all turn left, we all laugh."

As well as meeting for coffees, she goes on walking holidays with her gym buddies which is an extra bonus Gillian shared.

"It is the companionship as well I think. Some people may not always know lots of other people and they come here and again that's their friendship group."

Everybody Health and Leisure is a registered charity which aims to provide 'leisure for life' by improving the health and wellbeing of local communities.

The charity operates 16 leisure facilities, including Alsager's, nine swimming pools and seven Taste for Life cafes across Cheshire East.

For more information, visit: www.everybody.org.uk or follow on Twitter @ebleisure.