Meet the Team
Chair and Founder
Annys Fairweather (BSc, MSc, MCSP, HCPC)
Annys is our Chair of Trustees and the founding physiotherapist at LEGS. Annys has a background in sport and exercise science, extensive experience as an NHS physiotherapist and a passion for driving forward innovation and efficiency in rehabilitation.
In her position as Chair, Annys provides leadership, support and direction for the charity as a whole. ‘My role at LEGS is to help our team deliver our vision and be accountable to our values; to be a sounding board for ideas and dilemmas, making sure we listen to what everyone has to say and ultimately to help implement growth and development’.
Annys can also be found running the occasional LEGS class!
Director (Clinical) & Lead Physiotherapist
Sarah Sparkes (BSc, MSc, MCSP, HCPC)
Sarah joined LEGS in January 2020. She is a highly specialist physiotherapist in Neurological Rehabilitation. She leads the LEGS classes and development of our services. Sarah worked at St George's NHS Trust as the Principal Physiotherapist at the Wolfson Neurological Rehabilitation Centre and sits on the London ACPIN committee (a professional network which encourages the pursuit of excellence in the field of neurological physiotherapist practice). Sarah has completed multiple postgraduate training including: Level 1 and 2 PD Warrior, Strength For Life, Basic and Advanced Bobath, Get Back to Sport/Dr Claire Minshull's Strength & Conditioning for Therapists and Nikki Penny's Neurofit course.
Director (Operational)
Victoria Bailey-King (BA Hons)
Victoria joined LEGS in April 2019. She oversees the administration and day to day operations of the charity and supports the trustees in the governance of LEGS. Victoria studied History of Art at Leeds University before commencing a 15 year career in education administration, supporting executives in strategic and governance roles in both the public and private sectors.
Participant Co-ordinator
Lauren Rathbone
Lauren joined LEGS in May 2024 as our new Participant Co-ordinator. She is the first point of contact for all participants and referrals.
Lauren oversees the day-to-day administration of the charity, our timetable and website, and is on hand to answer any queries.
Lauren previously worked for an online Mental Health company in an administrative managerial role, and co-managed a department that organised online assessments for people seeking ADHD and Autism diagnosis.
Lauren lives in Cornwall, and in her spare time she loves getting out and walking on the moors, and is an avid all year-round wild swimmer.
Physiotherapist
Sarah Shiner (BA, BSc, MCSP, HCPC)
Sarah joined LEGS in 2021, running many of our groups. She has a broad clinical experience across NHS and private settings, specialising in neurological conditions. Sarah has undertaken the following training: APPI mat work Pilates, including a specialist neuro Pilates course, Nikki Penny's Neurofit course, and Strength and Conditioning for Therapists. Sarah is passionate about exercise and its power to improve mental and physical well-being, and is particularly excited about bringing people together through fitness and activity.
Physiotherapist
Lisa Cahalan (MPT, MCSP, HCPCye)
Lisa started helping lead LEGS exercise sessions in 2018. She is a physiotherapist with nearly 20 years of experience working in hospitals, outpatient clinics and in private care in a variety of areas. She studied Exercise Physiology as an undergraduate, then focused on neurological rehab in her Master’s program for Physical Therapy. She has completed the Get Back to Sport/Dr Claire Minshull's Strength & Conditioning for Therapists training, as well as the LSVT and PD Warrior Level 1 courses. She has also had training in the PWR! program. Lisa is a big believer in exercise rehabilitation empowering people to improve their movement and achieve better physical and mental health. In recent years, she has been working privately with small groups for fitness and strength as well as neuroprotective exercise, collaborating with Parkinson's UK. Lisa has completed the digital Neurofit training and implements this across all of her groups.
Physiotherapist
Nancy Farmer (MPT, MCSP, HCPC)
Nancy has nearly 20 years of wide ranging experience, specialising in rehabilitation for those with neurological needs and older people. Nancy worked alongside Annys on the Hyper Acute Stroke Unit and Local Stroke Unit in Charing Cross Hospital and has been a been a long time supporter of LEGS before joining in November 2020. Nancy also has her own business, Elwell, with life long friend Jessica Silver, educating and supporting people who are looking after their older parents.
Physiotherapist
Esther Slinn (MPT, MCSP, HCPC)
Esther has nearly 30 years’ experience as a physiotherapist specialising in neurological and elderly rehabilitation and joined LEGS in 2021. She qualified from the University of East London with a clinical distinction in 1992 and has since worked in a variety of outpatient, inpatient and community services across both NHS and private settings. In 2020 she was awarded the staff excellence award by London Northwest University Healthcare Trust, reflecting her passion for providing highly quality rehabilitation through hands on treatment, exercise therapy and education. Esther has completed Level 1 and 2 PD Warrior training. Esther is currently developing her own domiciliary service and believes that everyone should have access to ongoing affordable exercise to optimise and maintain their physical and mental wellbeing.
Physiotherapist
Laura Jeu Louis (BSc, DPT, MCSP, HCPC)
In 2009, Laura earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (USA). She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Loyola University Chicago (USA), (2006). She specialises in neuro-rehabilitation including post-stroke and brain injury rehabilitation, and is certified in clinical acupuncture.
Laura worked at BMI Blackheath Hospital, held a clinical research post at King's College London and has been published in connection to a Multiple Sclerosis study. She has also worked as a clinical researcher for Imperial College NHS Trust at St Mary’s Hospital, in a clinical trial setting involving participants living with HTLV/HIV. When not at work, she enjoys running marathons, cooking with her husband, and walking her corgi at Greenwich Park.
Physiotherapist
Anca Chisalita (BSc, MSc, MCSP, HCPC)
Anca has a background in neuro rehabilitation, elderly care, general rehab as a Physiotherapist, and complementary therapy and palliative care as a massage therapist. She currently works as a Neuro Rehabilitation Physiotherapist for the NHS in a community setting, doing domiciliary and outpatients work. She is passionate about helping clients to overcome injuries, anxiety regarding fear of falling, challenges related to the ability to transfer and mobilise, and achieving realistic physical health goals
Physiotherapist
Michaela Zelenkova (BSc, MCSP, HCPC)
Michaela has 20 years of experience in exercise prescription. This includes over fourteen years as qualified Physiotherapist in the NHS, over the past ten years she has been treating clients with neurological, vestibular and complex medical history. Michaela works for West London NHS trust Enable team community therapy neuro-physiotherapy outpatients clinic.
Michaela joined the LEGS team in 2021 bringing Tai Chi exercises to the broad remit of exercise classes LEGS already offers. Tai Chi has proved to be great exercise for improvement of balance, standing tolerance, leg strength and coordination. Michaela believes that anyone, regardless of their age and physical limitation, should and can exercise. What's needed is to find the right supportive environment and to set the exercise to a suitable level so it can be fun and enjoyable. That way it becomes part of one’s life.
Physiotherapist
Sharmin Rahman (BSc, MCSP, HCPC)
Sharmin has over 10 years of experience since graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2012. She has worked in one of the UK's leading NHS trusts specialising in neurology, neurosciences, spinal and pain management service as well as the largest private hospital specialising in complex care. She has worked extensively with patients with neurological conditions including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, stroke, long term conditions and neuro oncology. Sharmin has undertaken the following training: Bobath, Vestibular Rehabilitation, The NHS' Stepping Up Programme, and the University of Liverpool's Clinical Educators course.
Sharmin enjoys providing a holistic approach to physiotherapy, working very closely with people to work on their individual goals whilst also providing an evidence-based programme. Sharmin enjoys live music, playing guitar, cooking, travelling and gardening. She also enjoys being involved in the community and volunteers her time to do an exercise classes for people with Multiple Sclerosis in Barnet, and has undertaken a more recent role as a Home assessor for Refugees at Home.
Physiotherapist
Kate Bull (BSc Hons, MCSP, HCPC)
Kate has over 20 years of experience in neurological physiotherapy. She worked at the National hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery for 15 years where she was clinical specialist. She now works privately in the community helping people to meet their goals at home. She is passionate in helping people to feel more empowered through activity and exercise. She has completed training in PD Warrior, Nicky Penny’s NeuroFit course and is a certified Pilates instructor. She is the UK course instructor for the Australian Pilates and Physiotherapy Institute (APPI) Pilates for Neurology course.
Tai Chi Instructor
David Bouchet (BSc Hons,)
David has extensive experience in the health and social care sector and for the last 8 years has worked as a therapy assistant practitioner in community rehabilitation services.
David is also a Tai Chi for health instructor and is passionate about promoting the health benefits of Tai Chi, such as improved balance, strength and coordination, but also positive mental wellbeing, increased confidence and togetherness in a non-competitive, friendly and fun atmosphere .
Physiotherapist
Kerry Walker (BSc, MCSP, HCPC)
Kerry is an enthusiastic Physiotherapist with over 20 years' experience working and specialising in Neurophysiotherapy.
She has worked in in-patient rehab, critical care, community and out-patients both in private healthcare and the NHS. She also works at The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery.
She is passionate about bringing hope to people's lives through physiotherapy, encouragement and kindness.
Physiotherapist
Ali Evans (BSc Hons, MCSP, HCPC)
Ali qualified as a Physiotherapist from the University of Birmingham in 2009. She has experience in all core physiotherapy areas and spent the last 10 years specialising in neurosciences within the NHS and private sector.
Ali currently works at St George's University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as a Highly Specialist Physiotherapist.
Ali has a special interest in neurological and stroke rehabilitation. She has extensive experience working and supporting people following acute neurological events (stroke, GBS, TBI) and progressive neurological disease (Parkinson’s, MS, MND).
She is passionate about supporting people to achieve their full potential and live as full and active lives as possible. Ali has volunteered weekly for many years at Harrow MS Therapy Centre providing 1:1 physiotherapy sessions for those living with MS alongside the benefits the social and emotional wellbeing the Centre provides.
Ali has completed her Basic and Advanced Bobath training course, as well as Nikki Penny’s Neurofit course.
Physiotherapist
Lynsey McAlpine (BSc, PGCert, MCSP, HCPC)
Lynsey has over 15 years of experience as a physiotherapist. She has worked predominantly in rehabilitation (older people, neurology and stroke). Most recently she led the physiotherapy service of a stroke rehabilitation unit in the NHS. She has a post-graduate certificate in clinical research and was published in the International Journal of Therapy & Rehabilitation for her clinical research project supporting the carers of stroke survivors. This work was also recognised by the UK Stroke Forum in 2015.
She is a qualified postural stability instructor and has completed training in yoga in neurological rehabilitation and APPI pilates matwork levels 1-3.
Lynsey believes that the benefits of exercise should be available for all regardless of diagnosis or disability.
Physiotherapist
Maria Garcia (BSc, PGCert, MCSP, HCPC)
Maria is a highly specialist physiotherapist in Neurological Rehabilitation with over 15 years’ experience. She has worked at Kings College Hospital in London and Bagshot Park Neurorehab Centre as a team leader and currently works at the Samson Centre for Multiple Sclerosis.
Alongside her physiotherapy Maria is also a certified APPI Pilates instructor and has completed many courses including Bobath, Nikki Penny’s NeuroFit, FES, BOXFIT and ACPIN study days.
During her spare time, Maria likes running, having previously run the London Marathon three times, but now just runs for fitness and enjoyment.
Physiotherapist
Chandni "Sabrina" Shah (BSc, HCPC)
Sabrina is a rehabilitation physiotherapist, who has sent many of her qualified years working with neurological conditions. She qualified from the University of Brighton and has since then worked within the NHS and the privately physiotherapy industry in London. She is a qualified Pilates instructor and has attended several courses like the Spinal Cord Injury Course. She attends webinars monthly to keep herself evidence based in her practice.
Sabrina takes pride in keeping rehabilitation fun and tailored to each individual. She believes education is power, hence takes pride in empowering the public to take charge of their health. She is bubbly by nature.
Due to her qualified physio life, she possesses skills in; Respiratory, Geriatric and MSK physiotherapy but enjoys neurological physiotherapy the most.
Physiotherapist
Iain Matheson ( BSc, MCSP, HCPC)
Since graduating from Brunel University in 2015, Iain has pursued his interest in neurological physiotherapy in both the UK and UAE.
Iain draws clinical experience from his time working in several neurological rehabilitation units across London and in the UAE where he was able to focus on his interest in stroke rehabilitation, as well as working with those with conditions such as MS, Parkinson’s or neurodegenerative conditions, amongst others.
Now back in London, Iain is looking forward to delivering classes for LEGS to help people get stronger, more active and achieve their goals.