The Airedale Active Together service, funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, provides personalised exercise programmes alongside nutrition and wellbeing support for people preparing for and recovering from cancer treatment.
Launched in September 2025, the service offers one-to-one support in clinic or gym settings, as well as three weekly exercise sessions.
It aims to help around 1,500 people over the next three years.
In its first year, the programme is supporting people diagnosed with bowel cancer, with plans to expand to include breast cancer.
In its second year, the service is expected to widen further to support people with lung and upper gastrointestinal cancers.
Referrals currently come from hospital healthcare professionals, including oncologists, surgeons and cancer clinical nurse specialists.
GP referrals are expected to be introduced in later phases.
Sessions take place at Skipton General Hospital, Craven Leisure Centre, Keighley Leisure Centre and Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club.
Weekly exercise classes are also held at Craven Leisure Centre, Highfield Community Centre in Keighley and St Margaret’s Church Hall in Ilkley.
For Norma Blagborough, from Bingley, the programme formed part of her preparation for surgery after she was diagnosed with bowel cancer in July 2025.
Following a referral from her hospital team, she began a tailored exercise and nutrition plan ahead of her operation.
Reflecting on her diagnosis, Norma said:
“Completely devastated is the only way to put it.
"I was really taken aback.
"I’d had a hysterectomy a few years ago after I was diagnosed with womb cancer and really wasn’t expecting to be diagnosed a second time.
"I was so nervous about going through the same process again.”
Norma worked with specialist physiotherapist Sophie from the Active Together Airedale team to improve her cardiovascular fitness and breathing ahead of surgery.
She said:
“Sophie encouraged me to start walking uphill and to push myself a bit more, getting out of breath to help improve my lung capacity.
“She was so encouraging, and I realised I could actually do a lot more than I thought.”
Norma’s operation was successful and she spent three days in hospital before returning home to continue her recovery.
More information about the Active Together programme is available via Yorkshire Cancer Research.
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