Our Emergency Department is very busy right now and some people are experiencing long waits. If you do not require emergency care, please use an alternative such as 111 online.
A Barnsley woman led the way to more than 2,000 people in Yorkshire being supported by 'Active Together.'
72-year-old Yvonne Watson was the first person to receive support from Active Together in Barnsley through Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust after she was diagnosed with bowel cancer in summer 2024.
To help her prepare for the surgery she needed, Yvonne was quickly referred to the Active Together team, who carried out tests to establish her physical strength and then designed a personalised exercise plan.
By improving her fitness, Yvonne was able to lower her risk of complications from the operation. The service also helped her recover from treatment sooner and build up strength afterwards.
Yvonne said: “At first, I was devastated to hear the news I had cancer. But once I was referred to Active Together, I felt much more positive going into my treatment. I found the initial assessments tricky, but the team encouraged me to complete them as best I could. I was really pleased to see how I progressed with my exercises at home each week.
“The Active Together team were with me every step of the way. Even when I was in intensive care after my surgery, they would come and check on me. I just felt comfortable and supported throughout my whole experience. The entire programme has helped me to feel much better, both physically and mentally, and I’ve taken away so many positive changes in my life from it. If offered the chance to, I would 100% recommend anyone with cancer to take part in Active Together.”
The service, designed by Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC), has helped hundreds of people across the region prepare for and recover from cancer treatment since it was first launched in 2022.
In Sheffield, Active Together was recently associated with an overall 10% increase in survival for people with bowel, lung and upper gastrointestinal cancers, with those who took part in the service having a one-year survival rate of 95% compared to 85% for those who did not.
In addition, 97% of people who took part reported improvements in their vitality and wellbeing, feeling empowered and in more control over their health.
Following Sheffield, the ground-breaking service has been rolled out to sites in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, Wakefield and North Kirklees and Harrogate. Yorkshire Cancer Research is continuing to expand Active Together across Yorkshire so even more people with cancer can receive life-saving support.
Active Together is set to become the largest global research study of its kind, exploring how exercise should be provided for people with different cancer types and at different stages of their cancer experience.
Through the service, Yorkshire Cancer Research aims to demonstrate the lifesaving impact of personalised exercise to the worldwide cancer research community and to those who deliver cancer treatment, including the NHS, so that exercise can be prescribed to everyone with cancer.
The charity has welcomed a new international study announced yesterday (1 June) that shows exercise can reduce the risk of people dying by a third. The CO21 Challenge Trial involved people with advanced colon cancer worldwide who were prescribed exercise following their cancer treatment. Evidence from the trial showed that a structured exercise regime after treatment can dramatically reduce the risk of dying, the disease returning or a new cancer developing.
Dr Stuart Griffiths, Director of Research at Yorkshire Cancer Research said: “Active Together supporting 2,000 people in our region marks a huge milestone, not only for the service but for the future of specialist cancer exercise services. The programme is underpinned by a growing body of scientific evidence that shows exercise can increase survival, improve recovery from treatment and reduce the risk of cancer coming back.
“Research around the world is demonstrating the transformative impact of exercise for people with cancer and it’s fantastic to see a new global study demonstrating that exercise can save lives. That’s why Yorkshire Cancer Research is committed to expanding Active Together to thousands more people across Yorkshire. The charity’s vision is that one day, everyone diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire, and beyond, can be prescribed exercise as part of their treatment.”
Professor Robert Copeland, Director of the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University, said: “We are committed to advancing our understanding and implementation of physical activity, nutrition and psychological support in the treatment of cancer. The lives of 2,000 people have already been changed by this innovative programme, and we are dedicated to improving patient outcomes and increasing quality of life for thousands more in Yorkshire, and beyond.”
The Active Together service in Sheffield was recently named the winner of the #RightToRehab award for innovation at the 2025 Advancing Healthcare Awards.
To find out more about Active Together, please visit: https://www.yorkshirecancerresearch.org.uk/active-together
About Yorkshire Cancer Research
Yorkshire Cancer Research has been funding cancer research and saving lives for 100 years. To find out more about what’s to come in the charity’s centenary year and what content might be of interest to your readers, please contact press@ycr.org.uk