'How LFC course changed my life'
A Liverpool fan has revealed how participating in the club's Action for Health scheme helped make a vast improvement to his all-round life.
Robert Hayden attended an eight-week Premier League Men's Health course at the Salvation Army in Old Swan with the target of taking control of his health and lifestyle.
Before taking part in the programme, Robert was an unemployed chef, living in temporary accommodation and unable to see his children.
However, he attended the course devotedly and also took full advantage of the Activity Passbook scheme in order to go swimming in between sessions.
As a result, Robert lost three inches from around his waist which meant he qualified for a new sports shirt courtesy of the Drop a Shirt Size challenge, while he also started volunteering in the Salvation Army kitchen at meal times.
Two months on, his healthier lifestyle means he has continued to lose weight, while he has now managed to secure his own house which means his children can now stay with him and is due to start a job at the Hilton Hotel, Liverpool One as a chef.
Robert now feels he has achieved what he set out to do and although it's been a hard road to travel he's glad to have a stable life again.
"The personal trainer Kerry was the best bit of the course," he said. "I am still doing the exercises and now play rugby, football, swim and cycle from Aigburth to Liverpool every day to work.
"My kids are the most important thing to me - and I can outrun them now when we play football!
"The course motivated me to get off my backside - I needed the push. Now I have my own space (own house) I can see my kids more often. That makes me happy."