HUW Davies and his guide dog Hunter have become familiar faces around the Metrodome gym.
Huw, 57, of Queen’s Way, Hoyland, is completely blind and hard of hearing. But it has not stopped him joining the gym and losing nine stones.
Huw has been visiting the gym since 2012, and is reliant on trainers to help him during his sessions. He visits three times a week and uses the gym and swimming pool.
When he first started attending, Huw was 23 stones but thanks to his own hard work and the staff there, he has lost weight, as well as improving his fitness, strength and confidence.
Huw said: “I feel so much better for it. Before, I couldn’t bend down to tie my shoelaces, and now I can.
“It has made such a difference to my lifestyle. Being 23 stone, I wasn’t active enough. “Now I usually come three times a week and do more walking with my dog.”
Huw lost his sight through a hereditary condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa, but his vision didn’t start to deteriorate until his mid 30s. Now, he can only tell the difference between light and dark; meaning he is totally reliant on Hunter.
Huw, a former quantity surveyor, has severe hearing loss and wears a hearing aid in both ears.
He depends on trainers, using their shoulder to guide him around while Hunter accompanies them in the gym. The trainers also wear a special device which removes background noise so Huw can hear them properly.
When he’s swimming, Huw has to remove his hearing aids and uses a rope as a guide for lane swimming, and Hunter is allowed to wait in one of the staff offices.
Huw said it was vitally important to him to remain as independent as possible, and he’s familiar with the machines and gym layout. He even catches the train from Elsecar and walks to the Metrodome from the railway station.
“It’s only a five minute walk to the station in Elsecar and the conductor on the train knows me. There is always someone there, and they say ‘we’re here Huw’.’”
Huw said he initially thought he would be too much of a burden on staff, but said they always have time for him and he trusts them completely.
Michael Cutts, a manager at the Metrodome, has followed Huw’s fitness journey and how he has become an inspiration to other members and staff.
He added: “Huw is very inspirational, very friendly and staff love spending time with him.
“For someone to swim up and down in a lane, cut off from communication, is tremendous and in the gym, he’s very keen not to just do basic exercises. He always wants to progress and advance his training.
“It’s great to be a part of his journey and for us to be able to support him. As an operator, if we are able to help people add value to their quality of life, that’s the ultimate goal for us.”
