From Sheffield to Athens: How a global research exchange programme has inspired the future of cancer exercise treatment

The role of exercise in cancer treatment is gaining increasing recognition around the world. To help build on this emerging field of research, bright minds from Yorkshire and Greece joined forces through a pioneering fellowship exchange programme.  

Together, they shared ideas and explored different approaches to cancer and exercise, contributing to a growing body of international research that could have a significant impact on the future of cancer treatment.  

Funded by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) through its Global Health Initiative (GHI) and supported by Yorkshire Cancer Research, the fellowship exchange programme gave research fellows from Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC), the Sports Excellence of the 1st Orthopaedic Surgery Clinic of the National and Kapodirstrian University of Athens (NKUA) and Greece-based nonprofit organisation Regeneration & Progress (R&P) the opportunity to deepen their understanding of how exercise can benefit people affected by cancer.

The final research fellow to take part in the programme was Paul Mildenhall, who jumped at the opportunity to travel from Sheffield to Athens for a three-month placement focused on a research field he is passionate about.  

Originally from Chesterfield, Paul completed his undergraduate degree in Sport and Exercise before working in weight management services and mental health. In 2023, he joined the team of experts delivering Active Together, the research-backed cancer exercise treatment service funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research that helps people prepare for and recover from their treatment.

Since joining, Paul has been motivated by the life-changing impact he sees exercise have on people with cancer. 

Research has shown that regular activity before, during and after cancer treatment can reduce the risk of some cancers coming back by up to 66% and the risk of dying of cancer by up to 44%.    

As part of his role, Paul carries out final assessments with people who have completed their personalised cancer exercise treatment, celebrating the improvements they have made and providing expert guidance to help them maintain their progress.

Paul continued: “The benefits of exercise don’t stop when treatment ends. Once people have completed their cancer exercise treatment, we provide them with support and exercises they can do without an instructor. Knowing how physically demanding cancer treatment can be, I feel fortunate to help people become more independent and confident with exercise, so they can continue to reap the benefits far beyond their cancer treatment.” 

Paul had previously worked abroad in his early 20s, but never to focus on his passion for exercise and health.  

He said: "The opportunity to live in a different country for three months was one I couldn't turn down. I had already heard a lot about the work the Greek team were doing, much of which was new to me, so I wanted to learn new skills and also share the groundbreaking work happening through the Yorkshire Cancer Research Active Together service."

Paul joined the team at the R&P Sports Excellence Lab, which operates under the medical auspices of the 1st Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, with funding from SNF. Any nerves he had quickly disappeared after the warm welcome he received from the team.

Paul said: "I was a little nervous because it was the first time I had travelled in a while, but the culture in Greece is so welcoming. Everyone made me feel comfortable very quickly. There wasn't a moment I felt homesick." 

The R&P Sports Excellence Lab runs a variety of specialist exercise programmes designed to meet the needs of people with different health conditions. During his placement, Paul supported exercise treatment programmes for people with cancer, as well as those who had experienced strokes and people preparing for lung and heart transplants. He reflected:

One research area that particularly stood out to Paul was the emphasis the team at R&P placed on frailty and fall prevention.  

He explained: "At Active Together, we focus a lot on cardiovascular fitness and strength. But for many people, the side effects of cancer treatment can really affect their mobility and balance, increasing the risk of falls and injuries and making recovery even more difficult. The team in Athens showed us just how important balance-focused exercises are in helping people move more confidently, stay active and support their overall recovery.”

Whilst studying abroad, Paul discovered the insights shared by the Sheffield team had also made a lasting impression in Greece.

He said: "Thanks to the work of previous fellows at the AWRC at Sheffield Hallam University, many of the methods we follow at Active Together had already been introduced at R&P. The process of getting people started with their cancer exercise treatment, for example, had been made more streamlined and effective, helping the team prioritise support and match people with the most appropriate specialist.”  

Alongside learning and collaboration, Paul also found time to enjoy the sporting culture in Greece himself.

He said: "I spent my free time watching basketball, football and tennis matches. I also was able explore a few of the Greek islands and enjoy activities most tourists don’t get to experience.” 

The fellowship exchange was made possible by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), an international philanthropic organisation that aims to help create transformative projects by providing grants to charities across the world. Through its Global Health Initiative (GHI), SNF hopes to improve access to quality health care for all.  

Exercise is not widely available to people with cancer in Yorkshire, so Yorkshire Cancer Research is rolling out the Active Together service throughout the region, so more people can benefit from this essential treatment.

Thanks to SNF, Yorkshire Cancer Research has made significant strides in this mission. An £835,000 grant from SNF enabled the delivery of Active Together at the Yorkshire Cancer Research centre in Harrogate, which has since supported over 300 people with their cancer treatment.  

With 32 locations across Yorkshire delivering this vital service, over 4,000 people have now taken part in Active Together.  

Through the pioneering Active Together service and other innovative research projects, Yorkshire Cancer Research aims to lead the way in exploring how exercise should be provided for people with different cancer types and at different stages of their cancer experience. 

Since returning home, Paul has already seen some of the learnings made in Athens put into practice by the Active Together team in Sheffield.  

He said: "As a result of the fellowship exchange programme, we've incorporated more balance exercises into our fitness sessions. I provide research-backed guidance to help people stay stable and safe, which is proving a vital element to their recovery from treatment.”

"We’re also expanding the range of cancer types we can support through the service. That allows us to learn more about how exercise can be tailored to the needs of different people and their treatment. Someone who has had a mastectomy, for instance, needs very different exercises from someone living with a stoma."

While the programme has now come to an end, the relationship between the two teams in Athens and Sheffield remains strong. Paul will be visiting Greece this Autumn to see the team once again.

He concluded: "My experience in Greece was incredibly positive, and I’m so glad I made the most of the opportunity to learn from experts in the field of exercise and health that I can apply to my cancer-focused work here in Sheffield.  This fellowship exchange programme, and the knowledge that’s come from it, is already helping to improve support for people with cancer. That’s something I’m really proud to be a part of."