An Enfield woman refused to be beaten after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007.

Fitness fanatic Mary Huckle of Bush Hill Park, channelled her career as a personal trainer into making a full recovery.

Now, the 48-year-old is helping other women who have been diagnosed with the disease with her exercise classes.

She said: “Straight after my surgery I went back to doing some exercise, it really gave me my confidence back.

“Of course it was not as intense as my previous training but doing some form of exercise every day perked me up. Also, the exercise helped me to focus on something else apart from the treatment I was receiving.”

Ms Huckle's fitness classes and personal training sessions are open to all, but in the past few years several women who have suffered from breast cancer have taken up the classes to replicate the Enfield woman’s recovery.

Mary said training women who have been through the trauma of breast cancer is the most satisfying part of the job.

She said: “For me, working with someone who has been through breast cancer and being able to give them their lives back, gives me so much satisfaction in my job. It will be one of the toughest parts of someone’s life and everything seems really bleak.

“Giving someone their confidence back is a really nice touch and makes my job even more worthwhile.”

Marianne Poyiadgi, 45, had surgery four years ago. Having attended the Pilates classes twice a week for six months she has noticed a real difference.

She said: “Movement in my arm had been compromised from the surgery and I had some physiotherapy which didn’t really work.

“But from the pilates I have been doing in Mary’s classes, I have noticed a real difference already and it has given me much more movement in my arm. These classes have helped me build up stamina in my arm and I recommend pilates to women who have had chemotherapy.”

Ms Huckle added: “Because of the surgery that takes place, pilates is one of the most vital and helpful activities women can take part in. It really helps to get all your muscles moving again without intense work.”