From passion to purpose: advancing cancer treatment through exercise and collaboration content
Sport has played a central role in the lives of both Pelagia Mavrakis and Marialena Kaframani.
Growing up in Crete, Pelagia spent much of her childhood swimming before moving into competitive basketball, reaching national final-stage competitions. She went on to study physical education and sport science, followed by a master's degree in Clinical Exercise and Applications of Technology in Health. She is now completing a second master’s focused on functional training of injuries in athletes and trainees.
Marialena’s path has been shaped by a similar passion. Raised in Athens, she completed an undergraduate degree in Physical Education and Sport Science and recently finished a master’s degree in Exercise and Health. She is now preparing to begin a PhD in Exercise Oncology.
Both fellows’ experiences have shaped a growing interest in how exercise can be used to prevent, treat and manage cancer, amongst other illnesses.
Pelagia said: “Exercise was always something I’d associated with sport and performance. However, during my studies, I discovered how powerful it can be in transforming the lives of people with illness, as well as injuries and disabilities.”
Marialena added that her ambition has always been rooted in helping others:
“I’ve always wanted to make a positive difference to people’s lives and improve their quality of life and wellbeing. For me, health means taking a holistic approach, combining exercise, nutrition and psychology. Losing my father at a young age really showed me how vital health is to every aspect of a person’s life.”
Despite their growing interest in the relationship between exercise and health, both Pelagia and Marialena found cancer was not widely explored in depth during their studies. Driven by a curiosity to deepen their understanding, they each applied for a fellowship exchange programme funded by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) through its Global Health Initiative (GHI).
Delivered in partnership with the Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC), the Sports Excellence of the 1st Orthopaedic Surgery Clinic of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and the Greece-based nonprofit organisation Regeneration & Progress (R&P), which are funded by SNF, the programme aims to advance global understanding of the benefits of exercise on cancer treatment.
Pelagia said: “The prospect of exploring a new area of research, and in a completely different country, really interested me. I wanted to broaden my knowledge and learn how exercise could be integrated into the treatment of people with cancer.”
During their three-month placements, both Pelagia and Marialena worked alongside researchers and cancer experts at Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC), where they experienced the pioneering work taking place through Active Together – the research-backed cancer exercise treatment service funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research.
They first observed and later contributed to exercise sessions and clinical assessments, developing skills in bringing exercise safely and effectively to people preparing for and recovering from their cancer treatment.
Quote from Marialena
“I loved the holistic approach of Active Together, combining exercise with education and support to help people recover from cancer, including workshops on fatigue and nutrition and the sense of community it fosters among those who take part. That’s something we don’t yet have in Greece, but it’s exactly the kind of model I would like to help develop.”
For both Pelagia and Marialena, one of the most powerful aspects of Active Together was seeing the physical benefits exercise brings people living with cancer.
Pelagia said: “It was inspiring to see people becoming stronger, lifting heavier weights or doing more repetitions of exercises. You could clearly see progress over time and how exercise was improving their strength, fitness and overall physical condition.”
Through her experience, Pelagia developed a deeper understanding of how exercise can help speed up recovery from cancer treatment and help people return to their everyday lives.
She said: “Exercise helps with fatigue, which affects so many aspects of daily life. It also helps to improve mobility, cardiovascular fitness, strength and endurance. You don’t need specialist equipment to experience the benefits from exercise - simple tools like dumbbells and resistance bands can allow programmes to be delivered in a variety of settings and lead to meaningful, life-changing improvements.”
Alongside observing and delivering cancer exercise treatment sessions, Marialena also worked on developing new ways to support people experiencing peripheral neuropathy - a common side effect of chemotherapy that affects balance and mobility. Her work explored how exercise could help improve a person’s stability and enable them to carry out day-to-day tasks.
She said: “The side effects of cancer treatment can affect every aspect of daily life, turning even simple tasks into real challenges. Exercise can play a vital role in helping people regain their independence.”
Pelagia was also interested in the role exercise plays in helping prepare someone for treatment.
Quote from Pelagia
It was fascinating to learn about prehabilitation - helping people get fitter before surgery. I was particularly interested in the idea that a person’s fitness level can influence how prepared they are for treatment, highlighting the important role exercise plays in cancer treatment.”
Alongside the physical benefits, Pelagia was struck by the wider impact the sessions had on wellbeing, as well as how simple and accessible they are for those taking part.
She said: “Seeing the joy it brought to people was just as powerful. Active Together creates a sense of community where people feel understood and supported.”
Both Pelagia and Marialena found their experiences in the UK very different to their studies in Greece, particularly how exercise is integrated into healthcare.
Marialena said: “In Greece, approaches to exercise can vary, but this experience in Yorkshire showed me how important it is to build strong evidence and structured programmes that can be scaled to reach more people.”
During their time in Yorkshire, Pelagia and Marialana visited the Yorkshire Cancer Research Centre in Harrogate, learning more about the charity’s life-saving work and its mission to find new and better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer in the region.
Quote from Pelagia
It was valuable to visit the Centre and understand the vital role the charity plays in supporting people across Yorkshire, a region particularly affected by cancer. The charity has a clear focus to help people live long and healthy lives, and Active Together is a great example of how research, healthcare and community can come together to make a real difference.”
In addition to her work on Active Together, Pelagia contributes to an ongoing research project with the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC), reviewing the evidence on GLP-1 therapies (weight-loss treatments) for children and young people living with obesity. She continues to support the work from Greece and looks forward to helping publish the findings.
Looking ahead, both Pelagia and Marialena are optimistic about the future of exercise alongside cancer treatment and care.
Inspired to spread the message about the power of exercise, Marialena is now hosting a podcast in Greece about what she’s learnt from her time in the fellowship exchange programme.
Quote from Marialena
The purpose of research is to find gaps and fill them. Active Together is grounded in a growing body of research which shows how exercise can transform lives. My dream is to see every hospital in Greece include a space for exercise, supporting people with cancer and other chronic conditions. Exercise is like a hug and it’s something we can offer to everyone. I would love to see this approach not just in Greece, but around the world.”
Pelagia added: “I hope researchers and cancer experts continue to find new ways to make exercise a vital part of cancer treatment. Expanding Active Together to support more people and more cancer types would be incredibly valuable.
“With the right investment and expertise, Active Together can continue to build strong evidence and have an even greater impact on people’s lives. It’s a new way of thinking about cancer and exercise that I would like to see grow in Greece in the future.”