Hazim, father of six, introduces himself with the entreaty to “Call me Haz, like hazardous.” At 54 years old, Haz’s struggle with heart disease had kept him from being active, until a text invite to a cycling confidence session, kickstarted his journey back to cycling after a 32-year hiatus.
This session at Omnia Medical Practice was specifically tailored for patients dealing with inactivity due to underlying health conditions. Despite the long break, Haz quickly rediscovered his love for cycling, a skill that, as the saying goes, you never forget.
His enthusiasm didn’t stop there. Haz joined two more led rides, bringing his positive energy and engaging conversations along with him. However, as Haz prepared to return to work from sick leave, he faced a new challenge—the Friday morning rides clashed with his work hours.
Determined to keep it up, Haz requested help in fixing his son’s bike, which he had intended to use to continue cycling. Although this bike had too many issues to repair in a single repair session, the team at The Active Wellbeing Society were able to offer Haz a new bike.
For Haz, these sessions and rediscovered habits represented a last chance to make a significant change in his life. Fully aware of the severity of his condition, Haz knew how essential it was to maintain regular exercise. To support him further, Victor (Community Cycling Lead) connected Haz with local community cycling clubs, ensuring he had the resources to continue improving his physical and mental wellbeing.
Summarising his cycling journey in his own words, Haz said, “This experience has been immensely beneficial, significantly improving my quality of life and restoring my confidence.”
Haz’s journey reminds us that it’s never too late to start again, and sometimes, all it takes is a little push to get back on track.
