Free gym group set up in Derry to help those suffering from addiction

A free gym group in Derry has been set up to help those looking to recover from addiction.

The group was begun by local man Ciaran Mac Cearáin as he looked to help those that may be in a similar situation to one he previously found himself in.

He said: “I’ve been a personal trainer for the last 15 years, but like everybody else, I enjoy my weekends. I enjoyed going out and socialising.

“But then it wasn’t recreational anymore, and it became a daily habit, and it started to take over my life, and I lost passion for everything in my life, and then I lost my house, my girlfriend, and my child.

“I lost everything, and my health started deteriorating, and then last year things got really bad, and I had enough, but then my family had an intervention with me, and I managed to get myself back into fitness and get myself better by distracting myself with fitness, and I realised when I was doing this, creating new habits, it was not about going cold turkey; it was creating these new habits that seemed to be working for me.

“But people who want to make a similar change and want to go to the gym can’t afford to do it; they don’t have the finances because they are so addicted to things.

“I started posting my journey, and people started messaging me, and so I thought I would post this out, but I remember being really apprehensive about it, but there has been an overwhelming response with people looking to join the group.”

Ciaran has begun the group as he wants to show people that no matter how far you think you are past the point of recovering,.

However, he hopes that from people being able to see how he has managed to turn his life around, they can be inspired to do the same.

He said: “I am six months sober and clear.

“I am just trying to show people that there is a way out; there really is. I didn’t think there was a way out; I thought I was stuck in this vicious cycle, and I thought I always would be, and one day I would never wake up.

“But there is always a way out.

“I know some people here are still using it, but for me it is people who are looking to start to get help and get off it, people showing that they want to change; it is enough for me.”

Ciaran has taken this decision to create and lead this group as he believes that there needs to be more support and help for people who struggle with addiction.

He pointed to a detox centre in Derry as being essential to begin helping those struggling with addiction, and the lack of this facility is one reason why he has established the group.

“I knew it was getting drastically bad, but there was nowhere to turn to for help,” he said, “It is not good enough; there is no detox centre here.”

The group sessions are run three times a week at Emerge Fitness in Derry: Wednesday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 11pm.

Everyone is welcome to attend, as he wants to encourage anyone that is looking for help to come out and attend.

Ciaran said: “It is an open invite to everyone; you can show up and introduce yourself. We want to help everyone and create a supportive group moving forward.

“I know people are still using it, but for me, it is people who are looking to start to get help and get off it, people showing that they want to change; it is enough for me.

“I don’t have the resources to help all those who have responded to me at this point; I need more manpower to ensure the help can be given to everyone. 

“The reason I chose the weekend is that the weekend is when most people hit their bottom; they struggle Monday to Friday, but on the weekend they could fall into a hole.”