Gerald Laing from Redhill has secured a 12 week placement at Donyngs Leisure centre after becoming a qualified fitness instructor through the multi award winning InstructAbility programme.

The scheme provides disabled people with free fitness training, following by work placements where instructors work to encourage more disabled people to participate in fitness activities.

At the age of 25, Gerald Laing was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy which causes muscle weakness and the progressive loss of movement. But this did not stop him from training weekly at the Donyngs Leisure centre.

He said: “It is great to be given this opportunity and I’m excited to be working with clients on their exercise programmes and sharing what I’ve learned with them. I hope by achieving what I have, I can show them that keeping fit is possible no matter what your situation.”

Gerald will be hosting a free open morning on December 14th from 10:00am to 12:00am where he will be running a gym circuit with an introduction to the gym equipment. All are welcome to participate.

He will also be available at Donyngs Leisure Centre every Saturday and Sunday, from 9:00am to 5:00pm. For more information call 01737 764732, or alternatively visit www.better.org.uk