Michelle Ward has spent most of her life caring for other people. Now it’s time for her to take care of herself, and as the winner of a year’s membership of the Cedar Court Hotel gym (offered in a recent Examiner competition) she’s hoping to end 2012 fitter, slimmer and more confident. Hilarie Stelfox went along to meet her

IT’S FAIR to say that Michelle Ward has a strong caring streak.

As a child she helped to look after her ailing grandmother, who was a diabetic.

She was only 16 when her own mum suffered a stroke so she took a year out of college – where she had begun nursing training – to take care of her.

Then her father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and once again Michelle adopted the role of carer.

Her husband Francis says that his wife is “amazing.”

And he too has reason to be grateful for Michelle’s caring nature.

Disabled from birth with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, Francis relies on his wife’s nursing skills and ability to successfully juggle work and family life.

Michelle, 40, even works in the caring sector. After qualifying as a general nurse and working in a surgical unit, she is now a senior training officer for the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS trust and trains hospital health care assistants.

The couple, who have known each other practically all their lives and attended Rastrick High School together, have two children – Chloe, 12, and Kaitlyn, 8. They have been married for 16 years and live in Birchencliffe.

“Michelle is constantly juggling with our two kids and their activities, which include Irish dancing and competitions, as well as school routines and homework,” wrote Francis, when nominating his wife for our competition to win a 12 months membership of the Cedar Court Hotel gym at Ainley Top.

As well as a chance to work out and swim regularly, Michelle will also have the opportunity to win a weekend away, a meal out and other ‘incentives’.

“Michelle does a great job of looking after me and maintaining the house,” added Francis.

“She carries out any DIY and even built a wall in the garden. Nothing is too much trouble for Michelle and she just carries on ensuring that everyone else is happy. She is a fantastic wife and caring devoted mum.” In fact, news of the competition win couldn’t have come at a better time for the family. Francis recently joined a Kirklees Weight Management Service programme to improve his own health and fitness.

The programme involves the whole family. They have already seen a dietician and embarked on a healthier eating schedule.

During her years as a mum and carer Michelle says it’s been difficult to find the time to even think about taking regular exercise and looking after herself.

Consequently her weight has always been an issue. At her heaviest she weighed over 19 stones, she is now 18 stones.

“We had been talking about me having time for myself,” said Michelle, “and it was definitely time to do something about my weight.”

As Francis puts it: “Michelle is doing a great job supporting me but I feel she needs some support to lose weight herself.”

She knows she will have to work hard in the gym and make permanent dietary changes.

“I think I do quite a bit of comfort eating,” she says, “and we used to rely on oven chips out of the freezer and processed foods.

“We are concentrating on portion sizes, cooking for ourselves and trying to be more aware of what we’re having.”

As a health care professional, Michelle also knows that she will be putting her long-term health at risk if she doesn’t lose weight.

“My mum and grandma and her side of the family all had diabetes and my mum died of a stroke and had high blood pressure so I’m well aware that if I carry on like this that’s what I face,” she said.

But losing weight will also be a confidence booster, she hopes.

“Although I project a confident image professionally, my weight stops me doing a lot of things I would like to do because it makes me feel self conscious.

“And I would love to be able to go into any shop and buy clothes but at a size 26 you are really restricted,” she said.

Francis is also hoping to lose weight and, with physiotherapy and exercise, improve his ability to walk and care for himself.

“As I’ve got older my mobility has got worse,” he says, “I need Michelle to dress me and help with personal hygiene in the morning.

“I’d like to be able to go for a walk with her without being exhausted after a few hundred yards.”

The Cedar Court Hotel leisure staff will provide Michelle with a training schedule and keep an eye on her. She will also write a blog for the hotel website and we’ll be featuring regular progress reports in The Examiner.

l Tomorrow, read the inspirational weight loss stories of three Huddersfield women who have shed 12 stones between them – and kept it off.