AFTER undergoing surgery to remove testicular cancer this summer, Billy Hughes is back helping people to keep fit.
Billy, who runs the Park Training Incentive (PTI), was told he had cancer in July and says luckily it was caught early, meaning he did not need chemotherapy.
His "get fit" group, which is celebrating its first anniversary, now attracts hundreds of people every week at Bellfield Playing Fields, in east Hull.
He says they have all supported him through his ordeal and he is glad to be back out training – whatever the weather.
Billy, who served with the 1st Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment in Germany, said: "I found a tiny lump and went straight to see my doctor, who said I did the right thing going in.
"The worst thing when you hear the 'C' word is feeling like it is a death sentence and obviously that is most certainly not the case.
"I had a few low moments but psychology training I did at university helped to get through it.
"Had I chosen to ignore the lump, it could have quickly gone into further stages of cancer and been a lot worse."
Billy, 46, said he was in hospital for only a few hours for surgery and although he has to have check-ups, he was back to his best in no time and only took two days off from training.
He has also had sponsorship, works with Active Hull, with the TA and goes into schools to teach children how to keep fit.
His PTI sessions are becoming increasingly popular in east Hull, with one event in Bransholme and another in west Hull, and there have been countless success stories from members.
"I stuck it out and on some cold and wet nights through last autumn and winter, I trained just two people," Billy said.
"But now it's grown and the members have a lot of fun, I never expected it to become this popular.
"It's been a fantastic positive in my life after a lot of rubbish job opportunities and having surgery.
"I'm hoping to expand and teach people to set up their own groups in other parks.
"It's not about the money or it being a business, I just love the whole ethos of setting up fun but effective fitness classes, and as a trainer, the rewards are brilliant."
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