Triathlete Janette Cardy will host a trailblazing event at Carterton Leisure Centre next week showing local ladies how they can combat the worst effects of the menopause with good nutrition and exercise.

The occasion includes ‘taster’ sessions of strength training, stretching and the gym followed by a talk from Janette. There will be refreshments afterwards plus the chance to ask questions and mingle with the other attendees.

Janette, who lives in Witney, has represented GB as a triathlete both in European and world events and has worked as a personal trainer for more than twenty years. She is passionate about supporting people to become fitter and stronger whatever their age, body shape or ability and has a particular interest in helping women through the menopause.

She knows first-hand the importance of physical exercise for a healthy and productive life. “When I was forty, I was super-fit but then I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease, an autoimmune condition that causes weight-loss and anxiety,” she explains. “It caused me to have two strokes. Doctors told me that if I hadn’t been fit, I wouldn’t have survived.

“Then, when I was in my late-forties, I started going through the perimenopause and I found it really difficult,” she continues. “Anxiety was the worst symptom. I just didn’t feel like myself. Again, I fought my way back to good health with exercise. I felt like I’d been given a second chance at life so I decided to help other women with their own experiences of menopause.”

Janette has a website where she offers free advice to women all over the world and also runs women’s wellbeing days where she has seen participants break down in tears as they share their stories of midlife struggles.

“I’m not a doctor so I would never give medical advice,” she adds, “but strength-training is crucial as we tend to lose muscle-mass and bone-density as we age. It doesn’t have to be in a gym – you can use weights or a resistance band at home. Women should also try and find a form of exercise that they enjoy. Menopause doesn’t have to be a terrible experience – with the right support it can be an uplifting, invigorating time of life.”

Carterton Leisure Centre is run by charitable social enterprise GLL under the ‘Better’ brand. Kate Mulrey, the organisation’s Community Sport Manager in the region, comments, “This is the first time we’ve hosted an event like this and we’re thrilled to be working with Janette. We’re offering local women a much-needed opportunity to find out how they can improve their health and fitness as they get older.”

The event takes place on Thursday 2 May. Advanced booking is advised as spaces are limited.