Case study

Mark Crosland was just 30 when he joined the PALS scheme in 2002 suffering from chronic back pain due to a lifting injury. From one 'stretch and flex' session a week, Mark was soon doing three activity sessions a week.

In 2004, he became one of the PAMS and trained as a walk leader. Unfortunately Mark suffered a set-back in 2005 when his back flared up. But, following a spinal fusion operation in 2006, Mark was back exercising with PALS within two weeks.

He was off medication within 12 weeks and over a year lost three stones in weight. Now every week Mark goes to the gym three times, does Pilates, attends a mainsteam activity class at Huddersfield Sports Centre and helps as a PAM.

As well as the physical benefits, Mark said PALS helped him get through the occasional bouts of depression brought on by his back pain. He said: "Getting out of the house and meeting people lifted my mood."