Austrey resident Jill Hayward, 63, has recently completed the first in a series of epic fundraising challenges for Breast Cancer Now at leisure centres in Ashby and Coalville.

And she has so far raised over £1,000.

Supported by friends, she has line-danced a marathon for the charity with events at her local village hall, Ashby Leisure Centre and Lido, and Whitwick and Coalville Leisure Centre.

Following the diagnosis of a strangulated hernia, on top of a number of life-limiting conditions, with her doctor giving her a low chance of surviving the surgery, Jill decided to embark on a weight loss journey. 

She started eating healthily and joined her local leisure centre, which is operated by the award-winning Everyone Active, in partnership with North West Leicestershire District Council. 

Over the last 18 months, she has lost weight, is successfully managing her depression and diabetes, and has cured her sleep apnoea.

Jill said: "They took the machine away that I had to use every night to sleep! I feel like I've got my life back!

"Going into the gym at Ashby for the first time was really scary, but everyone was lovely.

"Frieda, the receptionist, is always encouraging."

Husband Neil, who has severe mobility issues and was not able to access the gym initially, came along to support her, waiting in the cafe. 

Line dancing was one of the first activities she tried, immediately noticing the benefits.

Jill added: "My breathing improved dramatically and I went from barely being able to walk the six steps to the back door to let the dog out, to managing to line-dance for four hours at a time and helping to run my local club.

Jill says line dancing has been a large part of her fundraising efforts

"It's also lots of fun. No one worries if you get steps wrong, they're just trying to get them right themselves."

Breast Cancer Now is a charity partner of Everyone Active, and the other challenges Jill has lined up will be an even greater test.

She said: "I really want to push myself and experience life.

"I feel like I'm very lucky to have been given this chance and this is why I want to raise money for Breast Cancer Now.

"People in my friendship group have been affected by the disease - it's not an illness you have a choice about - but here I am with my life opening up for me at my age. I feel I ought to make an effort for the greater good."

Jill has already raised over £1,000 for charity in direct donations and on her JustGiving page.

For her next challenge, she will tackle the climbing wall at Whitwick & Coalville Leisure Centre and said: "I've always seen people on the wall and thought 'wow' I'd quite like to have a go myself!"

Everyone at the centre has assured her she is capable. 

Jill added: "I initially worked with Bernie at Ashby, which was a game changer. She actually came up with one of my challenges - to deadlift 50kg - the amount of weight I have lost - for 64 metres - the age I will turn this year. She was so reassuring when I was nervous and lacking self-confidence. 

"I'm now trained by Ollie, who is very thorough in making me work on my technique before I get carried away adding too much weight."

Jill's strength is gradually increasing, and that will help her with the other events she has lined up, which include a five-mile hike, abseiling, ziplining and a 1,000m swim. 

She joked: "For the zipline, I'll just close my eyes and go for it!

"But the swim will also take training, and I'm proud I can now take my young grandson swimming and enjoy splashing in the water with him. Through this, we've made new friends who we go walking with at local National Trust properties. 

"Activity has helped me to get my life back. It's not been easy, it takes discipline and you sometimes have to push yourself but I just feel so grateful to have been given this opportunity." 

Everyone Active's Contract Manager for North West Leicestershire, Duncan Gibb feels Jill's story can act as catalyst for change to many within the local area. 

He said: "What Jill has achieved in terms of completely changing her life in such a relatively short period of time can hopefully act as an inspiration to residents within our area.

"What started as a simple desire to improve her fitness and wellbeing, quickly grew into a genuine desire to take on new activities and challenges. 

"Challenges which, not that long ago, seemed the stuff of fantasy. She is sure to captivate and inspire others to join her in that process."