Alternative funding is being sought to continue an exercise referral scheme which is facing closure after funding was cut.
The scheme, which sees patients with serious health problems referred by a GP, has been used by more than 6,300 people over four years. But NHS Barnsley has decided to stop funding at the end of March.
About 30 people attended a meeting at the Metrodome on Wednesday, where Kevan Riggett, health and well-being manager for Barnsley Premiere Leisure, said BPL wanted the service to continue and were looking for partners to fund the scheme.
But he said: "We have not been approached, but NHS Barnsley don't want to lose this scheme either and if anything came up, they would notify us."
GPs have been told not to refer any new patients because they would not be able to complete the ten week course, which is delivered by trained specialists, before funding finished.
Kevan said the scheme costs £144,000 per year but it costs more than £1 million every time someone suffers from a heart attack.
Verena Harford, 63, of Low View, Dodworth, is one of the last patients to be referred and said it was a 'travesty' the scheme was facing closure.
She has problems with her bones and her husband suffers from heart problems, but he cannot be referred to the scheme.
She said: "It's absolutely brilliant and I felt the benefit in my first week.
"I saw an expert who devised a keep-fit programme for my needs, she tells me what to do and what not to do."
Another member, Brian Moxon, said he was having to take time off work because of his asthma, but has continued exercising after finishing the course and now is back at work.
Brian, 56, of Day Street, said: "The feeling you get when you come out of the gym is incredible. I used to wonder how you could a get 15 stone man with asthma fit. But my family has joined and even people I have worked with have joined because they have seen a change in me."
Another member is Nic Cameron, of The Crescent in Havercroft, who was referred to help him lose weight after being diagnosed with diabetes.
Nic, 49, said patients are able to use the gym and swimming pool at cut prices and without the scheme it would be more expensive.
A petition has been set up by the seven staff who are employed under the scheme, along with a Facebook page and a twitter account.
Visit www.facebook.com/saveBarnsley ERS or follow @SaveBarnsleyERS on Twitter.
