It's Joab Wicks! Lockdown hero to move into fitness full-time
Selfless student delivered free exercise classes to the elderly.
A university student who offered free exercise classes to elderly people in care homes when lockdown closed down his business is set to relaunch himself in the fitness field.
Joab Wheatley, aged 20, from Sedgley, is about to graduate in Sports and Exercise Studies from Newman University in Birmingham and hopes to follow in the footsteps of fitness guru Joe Wicks who he said is "his inspiration".
Last year Joab, a former pupil of High Arcal Secondary School, set up his company Generation Fitness and decided to offer his talents to care, nursing and residential homes across the West Midlands.
He offered to help keep older people fit and healthy by providing exercise classes..
Joab, who has always been interested in sport, said: "The pandemic made me realise just how important it is for older people to keep fit.
"I called as many care homes as possible offering free classes to help keep elderly people mobile, fit and healthy and also to help boost morale.
"There was a lot of interest and even a care home as far afield as Liverpool even got in touch but just as I started to establish myself the second lockdown hit.
"I managed to run a number of outside classes in different homes due to the good weather.
"But just as I started to establish myself the second lockdown hit.
"However, Castle Meadows Nursing Home in Gornal offered me a job as keep fit and activities coordinator.
"This has given me an even better understanding of what residents need.
"I consider working with the residents is the best job in the world and they have all become my friends but everyone knows where my passion lies and I now hope to relaunch my business and provide exercise classes in as many homes as possible in the West Midlands.
"Many older people think that they do not need to exercise but if anything it is even more important for them to keep moving and I hope to make it fun so that they actually enjoy it and forget that they are exercising.
"I like to think that being young I can give something back to the older generation and hope that people will come forward to book my classes through my Facebook page."
