Former Victims Champion and award-winning campaigner Dr Sara Payne MBE will be visiting LED's Exmouth Leisure Centre on the evening of May 14 to deliver a motivational talk.

The talk is part of a special educational event to raise awareness of the centre's innovative power assisted exercise facility.

Following the severe physical effects from a stroke eight years ago (which left Sara with left side paralysis), Dr Sara Payne MBE will shed light on her fight to regain her independence and mobility via power assisted exercise.

Sara commented: "The stroke was just devastating. I was working as Victims Champion under Gordon Brown's Government at the time, so my job was pretty intense and involved working with people at the very highest level of authority helping to change and make laws.

"After waking up from the stroke my communication skills were limited, it even took me six months to train my brain to send an email. Needless to say, the stroke wiped out my ability to work overnight."

Over the last eight years, Sara's experience of the public health service has been first hand, and the physical rehabilitation support she received was often sporadic and inconsistent, which has all taken a very real toll on her recovery.

In an effort to reclaim her independence and make headway in her stroke recovery, Sara put out a call for help, "that is when I discovered the benefits of power assisted exercise, which has helped to improve my mobility, posture and given me greater confidence to continue the fight in my stroke recovery".

Exmouth Leisure Centre has a 12-piece power assisted exercise circuit which is already being used by older adults and users living with a wide range of long term health conditions including post-stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinsons, Osteoarthritis and Fibromyalgia.

The talk will take place between 6.30-8pm on Tuesday, May 14, and is open to all who have an interest in exercise, management of long-term health conditions and physical rehabilitation.

On Wednesday, May 15, the team at Exmouth Leisure Centre will be opening the Wellness Hub from 8am-3pm for a free open day.

Laura from the Wellness Hub said: "Come along and try out the circuit for yourself. Complimentary tea and coffee will be available and the LED and Shapemaster teams will be delighted to chat to you about the equipment and explain how it may help you".

For further information please contact Laura or Tom on 01395 266381.