Shoreham mum plans live HIIT workout to raise money for Worthing hospice in memory of her mother

Art teacher Sophie Garwood has been running exercise classes to help her through a difficult time, having been devastated by the death of her mother and the announcement of the closure of her school on the same day.
Sophie Garwood with her children Lenny, nine, Rudi, seven, and Ottilie, twoSophie Garwood with her children Lenny, nine, Rudi, seven, and Ottilie, two
Sophie Garwood with her children Lenny, nine, Rudi, seven, and Ottilie, two

The lockdown has made the Shoreham mum's situation all the harder but she is trying to stay positive, setting up a YouTube channel to keep people fit at home and see her family through lockdown.

With the help of sons Lenny, nine, and Rudi, seven, Sophie did a special live session on May 7 to encourage everyone at St Nicolas and St Mary CE Primary School to unite as one and workout together.

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Now, she is planning a live four-hour HIIT session to raise money for St Barnabas House hospice in Worthing, as a thank you for the care her mother received.

Sophie said: "My mum Rosie Garwood was a special lady. She was a wonderfully talented, intelligent and kind woman with a wonderful sense of humour. She was my best friend. She was an amazing Gaga to my three young children and I spent every day with her nearly, if not I was ringing her. I have been left totally devastated by her sudden death.

"My mum sadly passed away on January 15 at only 65 from a very aggressive neuroendocrine cancer. We found out she was ill only on December 17, 2019, when she was rushed to hospital with suspected appendicitis. I was away with a school ski trip at the time and flew back straight away to be by her side."

Rosie had started to get pains in her side at the beginning of December, which was put down to IBS bu unfortunately, the pain continued to get worse. After she was rushed into hospital, it was discovered she had a 15cm tumour attached to her outer bowel and this had spread to the liver. She was told there was nothing they could do.

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Sophie said: "On top of that, the same day she died, it was announced my school, The Towers in Upper Beeding, was closing, too.

"My life feels like it has totally fallen apart. As a family, we were trying to put in positive steps to look forward to the future but then lockdown.

"We are all grieving but all struggling with what lockdown brings. I have a nine-year-old boy who is trying his best, a seven-year-old boy who is totally mad and can’t sit still for a moment, and a very feisty two-year-old daughter. We are muddling through the days but trying to do something positive too.

"I decided I wanted to set up a YouTube channel to keep people fit at home and include the kids in some workouts, to encourage other kids to stay strong, too. I know so many people are, too, but for me, my exercise is literally keeping me sane."

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Every weekend, she has been going live through her Facebook page, Sophie Kate Garwood, and doing a HIIT session for 30 minutes.

Sophie said: "I mean I’m no Joe Wicks but it has been wonderful uniting old friends and their families, and nice all doing something together. This has all been done free but now I want to have some help in raising some money for charity.

"My wonderful mum would have been 66 this week. I wanted to raise some money for St Barnabas House hospice. I would have done the midnight walk, or jumped out of a plane, but for obvious reasons I can’t do this."

The HIIT class will be done through her Facebook page Sophie Kate Garwood on Saturday, May 16, from 7am to 11am for anyone to join in at their leisure.

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Sophie said: "I’m just trying to do something positive in a very hard time. I want to support St Barnabas House as they were very kind to my mum and our family in her very short battle with cancer.

Sophie has so far raised £1,660 for the hospice, having set a target of £300. Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sophfit to make a donation.

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