Strength is showing up, even when you’re scared. When you’re surrounded by strong, supportive women, their strength carries you forward.
I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a blood cancer affecting the bone marrow and plasma cells. It was a shock, but early detection gave me a fighting chance. Treatment led to a stem cell transplant to effectively reboot my bone marrow, putting me into remission.
I was told to expect a gruelling procedure and a long recovery, potentially months of being knocked down. My recovery was far smoother and faster than anticipated, and I genuinely believe that keeping my body and mind strong made all the difference. Continuing to train throughout treatment prepared me physically for the transplant. I went into it strong, and I believe that made all the difference.
My Sista Fitness family gave me normality. At a time when so much felt out of my control, fitness was something I could choose.
Training wasn’t about pushing hard or chasing goals. It was about maintaining strength, routine, and mindset. Exercising alongside my daughter and friends kept me grounded. It reminded me that I was still me.
What surprised me most was the care from people who didn’t even know me well. The Sista community is incredibly loving. Women would check in, smile, encourage me, ask questions, and treat me normally. It made me feel supported and never alone.
Strength is showing up, even when you’re scared. It’s preparing your body and your mind. When you’re surrounded by strong, supportive people, their strength pushes you forward, making the path clearer.
Look after your health and don’t ignore the signs. Luckily, in my case, early detection through a blood donation gave me a head start. Ask questions. Get checked. Talk with your friends.
Build strength in your body and your mindset before you’re forced to. You never know when you’ll need it.
Stay connected. Community is powerful. The support, encouragement, and care I received through my gym made a real difference in how I dealt with my treatment and recovery.
And if you can, donate blood or plasma. It saves lives. I know that firsthand.
Sometimes the exercises are hard, but I survive every time and feel stronger.
Sue is 79 years old and attends Sista Active three times a week, every week. Since joining, she has been incredibly consistent and has recently added a boxing class once a week as well.
When asked how long she has been working out and what benefits she has seen since joining, Sue says the biggest change has been simply becoming more active.
Before joining the gym, she often didn’t feel motivated to get out of bed. Now she looks forward to the routine, the movement, and especially the social side of training. Being around other women, seeing what others can do, and learning something new each week has made a big difference to how she feels.
What Sue loves most about classes like Sista Active and boxing is having trainers guide her through exercises that challenge her.
Even when the exercises feel hard, she says she always survives and comes out feeling stronger. Boxing has also been a highlight for her. It’s something she says she wishes she had learned when she was younger. Growing up with brothers who always played rough, she jokes that those boxing skills would have come in handy back then.
For women who think they might be too old to start exercising, Sue’s advice is simple: just give it a try.
She encourages women to come along to the gym with a friend, try a class, and then decide if they enjoy it. And if they come on a Friday, she adds with a smile, they might even get to stay for a cup of tea and biscuits after class.
When young girls see women training hard and competing fiercely, it shows them that strength and ambition belong to them too.
SI’m a 24-year-old professional basketball player who has competed at both the Division I and Division II levels in the U.S. before taking my career internationally. Since college, I’ve played professionally in Serbia and in Australia, including Rockhampton — where we won a championship — and Adelaide. Although I still feel very young in my playing career, I’ve already learned a lot of lessons along the way and look forward to discovering many more.
My journey has been built on hard work, adaptability, and a willingness to step outside of my comfort zone. Relocating for opportunities has been a consistent theme in my career. Every move has stretched me culturally, mentally, and athletically, but each one has shaped me into a stronger and more confident woman both on and off the court.
I come from a basketball family, and from a young age my family and I were often travelling in pursuit of the next opportunity. Adaptability and the ability to pivot are qualities I believe I’ve carried with me throughout my journey so far.
Being surrounded by strong women has been everything. When you relocate — whether to another state or another country — it can feel isolating at first. But being in environments with driven, resilient women creates an instant sense of belonging. More than anything, I’ve found it incredibly inspiring. I’ve had teammates who balance multiple roles in their lives while still competing as professional athletes. That kind of strength reminds me that while I’m passionate about my career, there is room for me to be so much more than just a female athlete.
Having the support of a female community like Sista Fitness means alignment. It’s powerful to know there are women who genuinely want to see other women succeed — physically, mentally, and professionally. The gym atmosphere feels free of judgement and like a completely safe space, making it easier to pour into yourself and push toward new limits.
Representation is extremely important because it shapes belief. When young girls see women lifting heavy, training intensely, competing fiercely, and confidently taking up space, it normalises ambition and strength. It shows them that athleticism and femininity can coexist. It teaches them that their bodies are tools for performance, not just appearance, and it gives them permission to pursue sport seriously — not just as a hobby, but as something worthy of commitment and pride.
Growth often requires movement. Sometimes that means relocating, stepping into uncomfortable environments, or betting on yourself before you feel fully ready. Every time you choose growth over comfort, you build resilience and self-trust. Surround yourself with people — especially women — who celebrate your ambition rather than question it. That kind of community can change everything.