A PERSONAL trainer is looking to inspire fellow dyslexia sufferers after speaking out about her personal struggle with the condition.
Years of hard work, dedication and belief has seen 41-year-old Kelly Chester develop from a struggling teenager into a woman with her own business.
Kelly, who qualified as a personal trainer four years ago, runs a popular set of classes to help get people in shape.
But the mum-of-one recalls spending the majority of her time at school frustrated, as no matter how hard she tried the grades would always come back low.
She had aspirations of going to college and then university to study nursing, but unfortunately her condition – which at the time had not been detected – got the better of her.
Kelly, of Grimsby, said: "I realised I would not be able to complete the nursing exams as I struggled with basic written tests at school.
"So after leaving education at 16 years old, I went straight into work and thought this was all I was good at.
"However, a few years later I wanted to try again so I went to college to resit my GCSE maths and English, which I finally passed."
Kelly went on to do an Open University (OU) diploma in health and social welfare, in London. It was here, at the age of 21, that she was diagnosed with dyslexia.
She said: "Lecturers noticed that my written comprehension was not as good as my oral side.
"I had various tests done before I was eventually told I had the condition.
"It was a huge relief as for once I could put a finger on what was wrong and it felt almost as if I had been given an excuse for the poor results earlier in life.
"It took me an overall five years to complete my OU diploma where as the average person did it in two."
Kelly began to accept that literacy work would take her longer to complete than others, but she was prepared to never be defeated.
She spent the past 22 years of her life working in the social care industry, before becoming a personal trainer.
She said: "I always had an interest for health and wellbeing and now I run various fitness classes for pre and post natal women, GP referrals, nutrition and weight management, chair-based body conditioning and more.
"I had to sit exams to train in each topic and I never passed any the first time around.
"However, taking resits made me a better trainer as I was able to take in a lot more information the second time round."
Kelly is also a qualified level three Pilates teacher and holds Boxolates classes at Samurai Hearts, in Freeman Street, Grimsby.
She is encouraging more people to join her groups and as a special incentive, the first three pregnant women to book a six-week Pilates class at £25 will receive her Practical Pregnancy Pilates DVD for free (normally £9.99).
"I want others diagnosed with dyslexia to realise they can still achieve, there is always a different way of doing things," she said.
"I am very proud of how far I have come and I will continue to work hard."
Get involved
Kelly's Pilates class runs every Friday, from 6pm to 7pm, at Samurai Hearts, Freeman Street, Grimsby. Boxolates run every Tuesday, from 6.30pm to 7.30pm, at the same venue. Each class is £5 or people can book a block of six sessions for £25. A personal trainer session will cost £35 and can be done with a group of friends. Anyone wanting to attend or book any of Kelly's fitness classes can call her on 07752041503. For more information, times and sessions, visit www.kellychester.com
