THE closure of George Carnall Leisure Centre really worries me. It has proved a lifeline to me and to many others in my situation over the years and I don’t know what I would have done without it.

Over 20 years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was a (relatively) young woman of 40 and I had been in good health until then but the consequences of surgery and ongoing treatment were depressing and very difficult to deal with.

Luckily, I was thrown a lifeline. My local leisure centre was less than 20 minutes walk away and this walk, together with the more gentle exercise classes provided at the centre, was the spur I needed to get back into exercise and to recover successfully.

I didn’t know it at the time but a review of the research from Macmillan showed that there is strong evidence that, not only can exercise build strong bones, aid recovery from treatment and increase energy levels, it can actually reduce the risk of recurrence.

Because of the help I got from George Carnall Leisure Centre, it turns out I was doing exactly the best thing for me in every single way.

However, it is often very difficult to exercise after cancer treatment. Patients often suffer side effects from treatment, suffer from terrible fatigue or are unable to move freely after surgery. In these cases having a local leisure centre, as I did, can be crucial. Being able to walk to the leisure centre, or to get there easily, might be the one thing that makes exercise possible and, as we can see from the Macmillan information, that can, quite literally, be a lifesaver.

Trafford Leisure have been excellent in providing health facilities for over 55s and for people with chronic conditions. I am so grateful for the help I got but, if George Carnall Centre closes, that help won’t be available for others in my position.

Linda Kerr, Lostock