Lou James is the founder and programme director of Pink Pilates. She is a former NZ triathlon representative, a working physiotherapist and clinical pilates instructor, an executive trustee of the Pink Pilates Trust and mother of two young boys. The Pink Pilates programme was started in 2006 in response to the need Lou identified to help women recovering from breast cancer surgery and treatments.

"There's a lot of evidence that supports using individualised exercise programmes to rebuild physical strength and enhance recovery from breast cancer surgery. It has an enormously positive impact on a woman's recovery," says James.

"Studies show that exercise can help enhance energy levels, limit weight gain from chemotherapy, ease cancer-treatment side-effects and reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.

Lou has spent the last 4 years researching, developing and implementing the pink pilates programme. She has traveled to San Francisco and Vancouver to attend courses and conferences about breast cancer rehabilitation. She has been involved in setting up and fundraising for the Pink Pilates Trust - a volunteer driven charity set up to support women through the pink pilates programme. She has also been involved in the education of breast cancer medical experts on the role of physiotherapy rehabilitation for breast cancer patients and has written articles for the Breast Cancer Network and Pink Magazine.

In 2008, Lou and breast physician Dr Sonja Freese designed and delivered a Pink Pilates training and certification course for physiotherapists throughout NZ. The course was designed to teach physiotherapists how to maximise recovery and improve the quality of life for those affected by breast cancer.

Together, Lou and Sonja hope that the Pink Pilates programme will help to raise the awareness of the importance of prescribed rehabilitation for every person undergoing surgery or treatment for breast cancer.

"We want to inspire those affected by cancer to commit to a moderate exercise schedule that will allow them to feel more a part of the real world, less like cancer patients, and stronger in the heart, soul, body, and mind. "

patron

Mrs Belinda Scott
FRACS 1991 MbChB 1981
General and Breast Surgeon - Breast Associates Limited

Belinda has been in private practice for 12 years. She set up Breast Associates in 1997 and has developed it into a multidisciplinary Team Breast Care clinic.

Belinda is the Chair of the Medical Committee for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation. She belongs to the Australian and New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group and is a member of the Auckland Breast Cancer Study Group

Belinda wrote a chapter in 'In Practice - the lives of New Zealand women doctors in the 21st century' edited by Rosy Fenwicke.

Belinda has a keen interest in women's health and believes that all women deserve to be treated with respect and excellence.