Stoneman Driven With Virgin Active Support

• Southampton driver uses fitness programme to boost comeback.
• Virgin Active’s state of the art health club facilities and personal trainers part of 2013 return.

12th July 2012 Southampton. Dean Stoneman is delighted to be back in the driving seat with Virgin Active who will provide him with fitness and health support as part of his programme to make a return to top level motorsport in 2013.

The support has been arranged by Virgin Active Hampshire in an agreement designed to provide the 2010 F2 Champion with complete fitness support via his local health club.

Dave Hanley the Sales Manager of Virgin Active Hampshire explained the tie up with Stoneman. “We are delighted to help Dean as he continues his comeback. He is a great sportsman who is clearly committed to reaching the top of his sport again and we are pleased to be able to provide him with all the support, expertise in the best environment to assist with his training”.

The support comes at key time for the Southampton based driver as he fights to regain his fitness following successful treatment and major surgery for Testicular Cancer in 2011. The Virgin Active agreement has been welcomed by the 21 year old. “It’s great to get the continued support of Virgin Active and their impressive facilities at the Hampshire Health and Racquets Club. I have been a long term member of the club and they have played an instrumental role in my fitness and recovery. Top level motorsport requires complete fitness and the gym and trainers I will have access to should provide me with all the assistance I need. I want to thank the guys at Virgin Active Hampshire for their valuable ongoing support.

Stoneman has targeted a return to full time racing in 2013 possibly in F1 feeder series Formula Renault World Series. In 2010 Stoneman won the FIA Formula Two Championship and successfully tested with the Williams F1 team prior to diagnosis for Cancer in January 2011.

Since his recovery Dean has become the Youth Ambassador for the Wessex Cancer Trust.

For further press information please contact – Anthony Shaw 07768 275464

Photo: Dean with Virgin Active Hampshire Manager Nathan Jones.

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About Virgin Active Health Clubs Virgin Active is a leading global health club operator, operating 259 fitness clubs in the UK, South Africa, Italy, Spain, Australia and Portugal. Since being formed in 1999 Virgin Active has achieved twelve consecutive years of revenue and profit growth with 2011 EBITDA increasing to £126.8m, 11% ahead of 2010. Virgin Active’s success has been built on a strategy that focuses on three key success factors:

Location – we use precise demographics to ensure our clubs are situated in large catchments where we know the demand will support building large facilities;

Value – large facilities allow us to drive economies of scale which provide us the opportunity to offer outstanding value for money to our members by providing comprehensive multi-use facilities at competitive prices;

Service – We are a dynamic business with one of the world’s most recognisable global brands, which enables us to attract great people who are very passionate about customer service.

Virgin Active recently acquired the Esporta estate of 53 UK clubs, including 20 racquet clubs, taking the UK estate to 123 clubs. This makes Virgin Active the largest Health Club business in Europe and takes the Group Proforma 2011 Revenue up to £536.2m. Virgin Active has recently opened its £8million Virgin Active Classic Health club at 200 Aldersgate.

Virgin Active intends to open 35 to 45 new clubs in the next five years.

For more information, please go to www.virginactive.co.uk