“I swapped my mobility scooter for running” – thanks to social prescribing

A 43 year old man who used a mobility scooter and lived in a bungalow due to his weight says social prescribers helped him get fit and complete his first half marathon.

Mark King, from Ilkeston, (pictured above with gym buddy Marko Sukovic, left, and social prescriber Aaron Ishmael, right) had spent several years struggling with his physical and mental health after a breakdown in 2019.

During the COVID 19 lockdowns he became increasingly isolated, rarely leaving his home and gaining significant weight.

Mark as he used to be, and together with his mother

His mobility deteriorated to the point that he relied on a scooter and became breathless after only a few steps. He even had to move into a bungalow to be able to function.

“I was just lost in life,” he said. “My mobility got so bad I needed a scooter. I’d sit on the sofa or the bed for hours, smoking, eating rubbish and not seeing anyone. Walking ten paces would wipe me out.”

His health worsened further when he got to 24 stone and was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Around the same time, his mother suffered a stroke and a brain haemorrhage.

“Seeing my mum in hospital was the moment it hit me,” he said. “I thought, that’s me in two years if I don’t change something. I didn’t want to end up where she was.”

Mark had been referred to a social prescriber shortly before his mother’s illness.

Social prescribers support people with non medical needs that affect their health, helping them build confidence, set achievable goals and connect with community activities. Mark said he had not expected the referral to make a difference.

“I honestly thought I’d just tick the box to keep the GP happy,” he said. “But the social prescribers were brilliant. I worked with a lady called Claire who was amazing. She didn’t judge me. She just set me small goals and kept me going. I needed that push.”

Claire began by setting weekly activity targets, starting with short walks.

Mark receiving his award, and taking part in the half marathon

He could only manage a minute at first, but he gradually increased his distance. “Those early walks were tough,” he said. “After 20 minutes I’d be sweating like I’d been in a sauna. But I kept doing it because I knew I had to.”

James Bromley, CEO of Erewash Voluntary Action (EVA) who supplied the social prescribers, said: “Clair has moved on from her role now but the care she and others gave Mark is something we still talk about with real pride. What she did wasn’t just coordination or signposting; it was showing up for someone who’d lost his footing and helping him feel valued again. Mark’s journey reflects the best of social prescribing: compassion, persistence and a belief that people can rebuild when the right support wraps around them. I’m incredibly proud of what Clair started and what the team continued. It showed Mark he wasn’t alone, and it reminded all of us why this work matters so much.”

With continued support from his social prescriber, a gym partner and Live Life Better Derbyshire, Mark lost weight and completed the Couch to 5K programme. He trained through the summer and completed the Nottingham Half Marathon in September 2025. “I never thought I’d run anything,” he said. “Crossing that finish line was massive. I wouldn’t have got there without the social prescribers. They were the catalyst.”

His lifestyle has changed significantly. He now follows a whole foods based diet, eating fruit, vegetables, healthy fats and high protein meals, and limits takeaways to once every week or two.

He has reversed his pre diabetes, improved his blood pressure, reduced his body fat from 50% to 23% and stopped smoking. He has not used his mobility scooter for 18 months. “I look different, but more importantly I feel different,” he said. “My sleep’s better, my energy’s better. I’m actually living my life. And I can look after mum when she needs me.”

Dr Penelope Blackwell, Chair and Clinical Director for Neighbourhood Health and Care, Derby and Derbyshire ICB, said: “Mark’s story is neighbourhood working at its finest. It shows what can happen when social prescribers, community partners and local services all pull in the same direction. By connecting people to the right support at the right time, we can help residents build healthier, more independent lives. Mark has done the hard work, and the whole neighbourhood team is delighted to see how far he’s come.”

Sarah Knapp, Physical Activity Inclusion Officer from Erewash Borough Council leads on a local initiative called All Move in Erewash. Mark recently became an AIMIE Champion where he supports community health and wellbeing events, promotes physical activity and shares lived experience to encourage others.

Sarah said: “Mark’s progress has been remarkable, and I knew straight away he could inspire others through All Move in Erewash. People living with long term conditions need role models who show what’s possible, and Mark’s story does exactly that. His commitment to the small steps he set with Clair shows the power of social prescribing, and he’s now helping others find their confidence too.”

Mark said: “Being an AIMIE champion means I can give something back,” he said. “I’ve done talks for GPs, helped at events in Long Eaton and Ilkeston, and led walking groups. Anything I can do to help someone else get started.”

King now trains six days a week and is working towards qualifications as a personal trainer and gym instructor. “I want to help people who are where I was,” he said. “There wasn’t much guidance for me, and I want to be that support for someone else.”

He plans to run the Nottingham Half Marathon again this year with a faster target time. “Start small and trust the process,” he said. “It doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s worth it. And if you get a chance to work with a social prescriber I can’t thank them highly enough, they’re fantastic.”