Active Together programme celebrates significant milestone with over 100 patient referrals in Wakefield and North Kirklees

Pictured: John Davies (L) with Jenny Harrison (R), Senior Physiotherapist for Active Together

A pioneering rehabilitation service for people with cancer has successfully supported more than 100 people with cancer in Wakefield and North Kirklees since it began in the region in October 2024.

Active Together, funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, provides a multi-modal approach to cancer care, offering patients a research-backed exercise service, alongside personalised nutrition and wellbeing support, to help them prepare for, respond to, and recover from cancer treatment.

The programme has been designed in partnership with researchers at Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre and is currently being rolled out across Yorkshire.

In Wakefield and North Kirklees, the service currently helps people with head and neck, colorectal and lung cancer, with the ambition to roll out to other cancer types later this year.

One of the many people to have benefitted from the service is 68-year-old John from Pontefract, who joined the programme in December. Through Active Together, John took part in all three available services and made significant changes to his health and wellbeing, meaning within two months his consultant described him as fit for surgery for colorectal cancer.

“Everyone, the dietitians, physios, and psychology team, can’t do enough to help you,” John said. “I really am happy with what they’ve done for me.”

John had previously struggled with alcohol, which had negatively impacted his health. He wasn’t eating properly, but with the support of the dietitians, his nutrition has greatly improved. He also began working towards quitting smoking and has already noticed a remarkable difference in how he feels.

“Since attending Active Together, my health has really improved. I feel far, far better, and I’m wanting to do things again,” he said. “I can’t thank the team enough.”

Jenny Harrison, Senior Physiotherapist for the Active Together Service at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, said: “John’s journey is just one example of how integrating psychological, nutritional, and physical support can make a real difference in patient outcomes.

“We are incredibly proud to have reached this milestone of 130 referrals. Personally, I find it so rewarding that we can support and empower people like John to actively participate in their cancer journey and make a real difference to their overall lifestyle.”

A recent evaluation of the cancer exercise service in Sheffield has shown a 10% higher one-year survival rate for people taking part in the programme compared to 85% for those who did not. 97% of people taking part also reported improvements in their health and wellbeing.

Stuart Griffiths, Director of Research and Services at Yorkshire Cancer Research added: “ Exercise plays a vital role in improving cancer outcomes, so it is fantastic to hear more than 100 people in Wakefield and North Kirklees have already taken part in the Active Together programme.

“Yorkshire Cancer Research is committed to working with Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust to ensure more people in the area can benefit from this life-saving cancer exercise service.”