George Chapman, 70, was a beloved Bolton fitness instructor – known to people as “King George”. Now he is wheelchair-bound with a rare disease. A “fun, smiley” man, he got his nickname for his famous circuit training sessions in Bolton and Horwich leisure centres.
Last year, George was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) – a condition where brain and nerve cells (motor neurones) gradually stop working. And the brain and spine lose function. Tara McMahon, 42, his daughter, said: “One minute he could walk, work and do everything, then he started having problems with his legs.
“He was falling, unable to walk up and down the stairs. “That’s when he went to the doctor and was sent to the hospital for tests. He was diagnosed with MND.
” The disease progressed quickly. George Chapman (Image: Public) Tara said: “He started being unable to use his legs and needed a walking stick. “Now he is wheelchair bound and losing arm function.
” George had stayed active for years, a fitness enthusiast since his time in the Territorial Army. Tara, who is from Bolton, said: “My father has always needed to be out and about doing things. “He’d kept his job as a painter and decorator after retiring from teaching circuit training.
“He gave up work when he fell ill. “And has had to move into a home that looks after people with MND . George Chapman in a circuit training session (Image: Public) “It’s been tough going from being able to do everything to doing .