At 66 years old, Andrew Mann has faced more than his fair share of health challenges. Having suffered 11 heart attacks and undergone major heart surgery, his road to recovery has been a long one. But since joining Derby County Community Trust’s Cardiac Rehabilitation programme in February 2026, he has found support and encouragement to help him rebuild his wellbeing.

Andrew has faced significant challenges with his health. He explained: “I had 11 heart attacks. I had major heart surgery. I was lucky enough to have an operation at Glenfield on a trial scheme which was pretty good. So, I was very lucky and I’m now here to tell the story.”

Following eight sessions of hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation, Andrew was referred to continue his recovery with DCCT. Having never previously heard of the Trust, he was pleasantly surprised by the support available.

“It’s a wonderful programme because it’s run very, very well indeed,” he said. “I’ll be honest, I’d never heard of Derby County Community Trust before, but is an absolutely fantastic place. The work they do is unbelievable.”

The programme provides structured exercise sessions designed around participants’ individual abilities, helping them gradually improve their fitness and confidence following a cardiac event. For Andrew, having the reassurance of experienced instructors is a particularly important part of that process.

He said: “We get great support and guidance from Lee and Jon the instructors, and if anything seems a little bit too much, they come and sort of talk you through it. They’re very good, they’re just the right people for this programme.”

For Andrew, that balance is what makes the sessions so effective. While the atmosphere is relaxed and full of laughter, he recognises that the programme is taken seriously, with staff encouraging everyone to get the most out of each session.

“It’s run with a great deal of humour, tongue in cheek, but it’s also serious and people do try and if you’re not trying hard enough, the staff do push you, but just the right amount.”

Beyond the physical benefits, one of the things Andrew values most is being surrounded by fellow participants who understand exactly what he has been through.  

Having experienced their own cardiac events, everyone attending has a different story to tell, but there is a shared understanding that brings the group together. Andrew explained: “It’s a very good thing to attend with a bunch of other chaps who have been through the same sort of thing,” he said. 

“We’ve all come out the other end. We’ve all had different stories, but being with people who understand what you’re going through is very good. And likewise, it’s all taken with great sense of humour.” 

The physical improvements have also been significant. Andrew said: “My physical health when I came out of hospital, it was very damaged goods and it takes a long time to get back.

“And when you start the programme, you take it very slow to start off with and then it seems to really spur you on and push you on. You learn to just adjust with your weaknesses, and this programme is what really helps you,” he said.

 “It’s surprising at our age group to enjoy doing physical things, it’s quite out of our comfort zone but it’s, it’s very good and I think we’re all getting better.”

Andrew’s enthusiasm for the programme is clear, and despite everything he has been through, he is determined to keep attending. He said: “I feel a big difference in the last year. It’s a really good programme, and I shall continue this forever I hope.”

For anyone who has experienced a cardiac event and might feel nervous about joining a rehabilitation programme, Andrew’s message is simple: give it a chance.

“I would say come and give it a go. But don’t just go once. You need to go for a couple of weeks to sort of get into it and get to know people. Then you suddenly find, oh this is quite good.

“And if you’ve got any worries, any questions or anything, everybody is wanting to help you. Everybody is wanting to talk to you.”

After such a challenging health journey, Andrew has found a programme that gives him the encouragement to keep progressing, the companionship of people who understand his experiences and a reason to stay active. “It is a really wonderful programme. So, I really would recommend it to absolutely anybody,” he said.

DCCT’s Cardiac Rehab programme supports people following a cardiac event, including a heart attack, heart surgery or stent procedure, helping them return to as full a life as possible. For more information on the programme, click here.