Two friends from South Shields have turned a 'heart-breaking loss' into a mission to improve people's physical and mental health. Kristie Graham and Natalie Wiley, who were brought together by tragic circumstances, now run their own community interest company (CIC) to support others.
A journey through grief
Gym owner and fitness coach Kristie lost her fiance Robbie Robson in 2022, when he was killed by a colleague while working on a gas rig off the Qatar coast. The tragedy left her to raise their daughter Willow, 14, and 5-year-old son Sefa alone.
Turning to fitness to cope, Kristie said: "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."
She added: "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, as I was exhausted, I was losing weight, and I was still sinking."
Kristie said she had therapy through the NHS, but "it just wasn’t enough", describing the service as "already struggling to cope with demand and long waiting lists". She said she felt "completely lost" until she started working with Natalie.
Building a new partnership
Together, they set up Fitfam x Realign, their own CIC, to help people with their physical health, emotional wellbeing and quality of life. Natalie, a hypnotherapist, massage therapist and 9D breathwork facilitator, also knew Robbie as a friend of her brother, so wanted to support Kristie however she could.
Natalie explained how their working partnership began: "Grief can crush people and it was clear that Kristie was trying her best, but needed some additional support."
She added: "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," Natalie said.
Supporting individuals and businesses
Since April, the CIC has been providing support for individuals, young people, and workplaces, including hypnotherapy, breathwork, emotional regulation, and tailored fitness support. Natalie noted the benefits for businesses: "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."
She added: "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 is also a lasting legacy for Robbie. She said: "Robbie would light up a room when he walked in, and all of this has been inspired by him. 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, with his mantra always being ‘don’t just exist’," Kristie added.
Community engagement
The CIC offers businesses the chance to 'pay it forward', funding treatment and support for those who may otherwise be unable to access it. Both women recently spoke at a South Tyneside Pledge Networking event to tell their story and encourage businesses to support the area.
Councillor Elliot Curry, Lead Member for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Investment at South Tyneside Council, said: "I think people in the borough will remember the heart-breaking 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."
He added: "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."
