A few years ago, all that changed when I had a suspected stroke and my mobility was compromised. To go from running 20-30 miles a week to not being able to move one side and having severe fatigue was shocking and soul destroying. A few years later, a routine s

Caro Hames went through a year of treatment including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a lumpectomy for her breast cancer – she shared her wonder at how short walks with WALX total body walking poles, gave her the confidence to plan a ski holiday.

“ Honestly, I was laid to waste, I could hardly walk. I just hadn’t got any energy, and I lost my core plus all my muscles in my legs. They all kind of got knotted- you get neuropathy as well with the chemo. I was making progress and then I had radiotherapy which then again laid me to waste a bit with fatigue. I was starting to walk again and that is when my Husband was training to be an instructor, and he persuaded me to walk with poles. It was just amazing I can’t say any other word I could not believe it.  I used to be a dancer in my earlier years, so I’ve got quite a lot of cell memory in things like my core, but it was squidge I mean totally squidge. When he showed me how to use the poles, I honestly was only able to do three or four K at a time. Probably max, but I just gradually built on it and by the time we went on holiday in 2 months later, I literally had a bit of my core back and did some climbing mountains with him as well. They are fantastic for going up really hills honestly, just amazing! I was so chuffed with my progress and it’s all to do with the poles because I had stopped doing any other exercises. I am now back doing squats and lunges because I want to go skiing in 5 months and it looks like I’m going to be able to do that. I have to lose one week in every three because when I’ve had the chemo the first week I’m a bit low energy but the second and the third week I’m out there with my poles – I just  could not believe the difference to my core, fitness and I was getting bingo wings but they have gone now too! It’s brilliant thank you so much.

Sam is a WALX Master who has been delivering pole walking for over 17 years – she runs several sessions a week with a loyal band of Instructors and Leaders and also take WALX members on holidays all over the world.

Here she shares her personal story

Over a decade of caring for my chronically disabled daughter, who underwent pioneering surgery, walking became my lifeline. Each day, I would take a walk whilst I could, knowing that it would clear my head, release vital endorphins, and give me the strength to face whatever lay ahead. In the midst of an isolated world of caring for a sick child, where the demands were stressful and exhausting, walking allowed me to recharge, focus, and find the mental clarity needed to navigate each situation. It became more than just exercise; it was my way of coping, healing, and staying strong for my daughter.

Ultimately, the power of walking and exercise had such a profound effect on my well being that I knew I had to share it with others. If it could help me manage the emotional and physical strain, it could empower others too. This realisation alongside discovering the use of poles led me to build a business dedicated to promoting walking and fitness, knowing that it could not only help people stay fit but also find new friendships and change their own lives.

Little did I know that many years later, in 2024, after my breast cancer diagnosis, I would once again be using walking as a therapy to heal. This time, I wasn’t alone. The very members I had supported, motivated, and kept fit for all these years were now supporting me. Together, we walked through my healing journey.”

My WALX poles have also been a constant companion, joining me on mountain climbs in Scotland, hikes in Ireland and when leading my weekly total body walking sessions in Derbyshire

I’m a passionate trail runner, ultra-endurance athlete, and founder of WildStride—a Dorset-based running experience that blends guided trail runs, movement-focused retreats, and community connection through nature.

Running started as a personal goal—to get fit and feel more in control. But it quickly became more than that. It became a tool for building confidence, managing wellbeing, and most of all, connecting with others. Over time, it’s taken me from road jogs to ultramarathons and helped shape who I am.