“I lost vision in my left eye overnight at 26, and no one knew why. After countless tests, including lumbar punctures, CAT scans, and MRI scans, I was finally diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. The odds were one in 60 million. Within six weeks, I was completely blind.
“My life turned upside down. My flat was repossessed, and I ended up in a council flat far from my community, forced to start over. I had to relearn basic tasks. If I’d been younger or retired, support would have been available, but at my age, I fell through the cracks. I began drinking and smoking too much, eating poorly, and my self-esteem plummeted. One morning, I woke up in a messy flat, surrounded by beer cans, and realized, ‘I can’t keep doing this.’
“I’ve always had a passion for fitness. Growing up in a big Irish family with six brothers, one of them had a York multigym, and I’d sneak into his room to use it. Later, while my co-workers read magazines like Maxim, I was reading Men’s Health. Knowing fitness could help, I bought a rowing machine and committed to an hour a day, followed by press-ups and pull-ups. I had a guide dog, and we’d go on longer and longer walks.
“Exercising without sight feels almost out-of-body. I focus on how my bones and joints move; it’s an intense, internal experience that deepens my mind-muscle connection.
“Eventually, I got my nephew to take me to a gym, but the staff were sceptical. One even asked, ‘What’s a blind guy going to do at a gym?’ right in front of me. I left and found a smaller local gym where people were willing to help. One person said, ‘You really know what you’re doing; why don’t you get qualified?’
“Becoming a certified fitness coach was no easy path, but in 2009, I made it, and in 2011, I became the UK’s first blind personal trainer. I got a job at Virgin Active, where, despite some initial doubt, I soon proved myself, advancing to fitness manager within nine months.
“Today, my wife Louise and I run our own gym/studio. I train over 40 clients, which have included people with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, PTSD, and other blind clients. At 52, I’m probably in the best shape of my life, training four to five times a week and teaching cycle classes. My go-to workout is what we call our ‘Thor workout,’ inspired by Chris Hemsworth. You only need one barbell (I use 25kg) and perform 10 bicep curls, 10 overhead presses, 10 tricep extensions, 10 squats, 10 lunges per leg (holding the barbell at your sides), 10 bent-over rows, and 10 oblique twists, for 10 rounds without stopping. It’s a relentless but a rewarding challenge.
“For many people with disabilities, going to the gym can feel daunting, which leads some to avoid it altogether. But fitness spaces should be accessible and welcoming for everyone, whether they’re focused on mobility, mental well-being, or any other goal. At Simply FITT, we pride ourselves on dong just this.