The Hull FC Community Foundation has named Jo Thomas as the latest Champion Of The Month for July 2023.

Jo, a big Hull FC fan, has been one of the trailblazers for the Community Foundation’s Unite Fitness project since its launch at the start of 2022, inspiring other local women to socialise and get in shape.

She has helped introduce new participants to the sessions and she has created a social media group chat to make sure everyone is able to stay in touch.

Not only is Jo a regular, weekly attendee at Unite Fitness, but she also brings her mum and auntie to the Community Foundation’s Our Best Years sessions, making teas and coffees for all of the participants.

Helping Community Foundation staff with the set-up of Unite Fitness sessions, Jo’s commitment certainly has not gone unnoticed.

Speaking to hullfcfoundation.co.uk, Jo said: “Unite Fitness is the perfect distraction from the stresses of life for me – the regularity of the sessions and just getting into that weekly routine of coming along has been really helpful.

“When I very first started coming along to the sessions, I was experiencing some personal issues, so it was a good opportunity to give me something to look forward to, meet new people and get more active.

“I look forward to the sessions so much and I rarely miss them. They are so varied, so I never get bored. The sessions on the final Wednesday of the month, have speakers or we try new activities like art, nutrition, yoga, boxing, visit the deep etc.

“These have all improved my mental health and wellbeing. I know that my fitness has improved, I look and feel so much better that I did when I started.

“For us participants, it’s more than just the sessions now. We have a WhatsApp group and we are hopeful of organising some activities off our own backs – that’s something that Maisie and Rebecca at the Community Foundation are advocating.”

To discover more about Unite Fitness, please click here – or email maisie.malton@hullfc.com for more information.