A journey that began with heartbreaking loss has brought two South Tyneside friends together with a shared mission to improve physical and mental wellbeing across the North East.
The circumstances that brought Kristie Graham and Natalie Wiley together were tragic, but the outcome of their friendship has been something profoundly positive: the creation of a community interest company (CIC) dedicated to helping people improve their physical health, emotional wellbeing and quality of life.
Gym owner and fitness coach Kristie lost her fiancé, Robbie Robson, in 2022, leaving her to raise their daughter, Willow, 15, and son, Sefa, five. Robbie was killed by a colleague while working on a gas rig off the coast of Qatar.
Kristie’s world was turned upside down by Robbie’s death. Looking for a way through the grief, she turned to the thing that had always been there for her: fitness.
“I couldn’t take in what had happened. The grief hit me so hard, and at the same time I was trying to hold things together for our children, Willow and Sefa, who’d just lost their dad,” said Kristie.
“Fitness has always been a big part of my life, so I threw myself into training. It gave me some structure and kept me going, but on its own it couldn’t touch the grief. I was exhausted, I was losing weight, and I was still sinking.”
“I’d had therapy through the NHS, but it just wasn’t enough. It’s a service that is already struggling to cope with demand and long waiting lists. I felt completely lost until I started working with Natalie.”
A hypnotherapist, massage therapist and 9D breathwork facilitator, Natalie is also based in South Shields. She knew Robbie, who’d been a friend of her brother’s, and when Kristie came to her for support, was determined to help in any way she could.
Natalie said:
“Grief can crush people and it was clear that Kristie was trying her best, but needed some additional support.
“We started by working on her breathing and helping her to relax. Exercise is brilliant for both body and mind, but when someone is carrying something as heavy as grief, it often needs to go hand in hand with support for what’s happening underneath.
“We look at the root of what someone is going through and work on that. Whether it’s grief, stress or other challenges, it’s about understanding what’s really going on and helping them through it.”
As Kristie began to make progress, the pair began discussing how they could use their combined experience to support other people. Natalie began attending Fitfam, the gym Kristie runs with her twin sister Carla, and the idea for a new CIC began to take shape.
The result was Fitfam x Realign, which brings together physical movement, emotional wellbeing and nervous-system support for individuals, young people and workplaces.
Since creating the CIC in April, the pair have developed a range of services designed to help people improve their physical and mental wellbeing, including hypnotherapy, breathwork, emotion regulation and tailored fitness support.
Natalie added:
“Primarily, we want to help people, but there are also major benefits for businesses in supporting their employees to become healthier and happier.
“We can help businesses reduce sickness absence, improve productivity and create a happier working environment.
“We work with people of all ages and tailor our support to what is likely to benefit them most. Young people, for example, are still dealing with the longer-term effects of Covid, with many experiencing anxiety and other challenges several years on.”
For Kristie, the project also represents a lasting legacy for Robbie.
“Robbie would light up a room when he walked in, and all of this has been inspired by him,” she said.
“Losing Robbie was incomprehensible, and it had a devastating impact on so many people. He inspired me to help others, and he inspired my sister Carla to pursue her dream of becoming a firefighter.
“He loved life, and he’d love knowing that good, positive things have come from him. His mantra was always ‘don’t just exist’.”
Fitfam x Realign also offers businesses the opportunity to ‘pay it forward’, funding treatment and support for individuals who may otherwise be unable to access it.
Kristie and Natalie recently spoke at a South Tyneside Pledge Networking event, sharing with fellow signatories how combining their complementary skills and experience is helping them provide more holistic support for local people.
The South Tyneside Pledge encourages businesses to spend in, recruit from, and support the Borough, is also helping to increase the links between the private and voluntary sectors, and between businesses themselves.
Councillor Elliot Curry, Lead Member for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Investment, said:
“I think people in the borough will remember the heartbreaking story of what happened to Robbie. It shocked the whole community and I can’t imagine the impact it must have had on those who loved and knew him best.
“However, it is incredibly inspiring to see something so positive come from such a tragedy. I wish Kristie and Natalie every success and I’m sure anyone who engages with their support will benefit greatly from their care and expertise.”
For more information about Fitfam x Realign e-mail: info@fitfamxrealign.com
For more information about the South Tyneside Pledge see: The Pledge – Invest South Tyneside
