Fitness industry exercises fundraising muscles for victims of Asian tsunami

Health and fitness operators are pulling out the stops to help victims of the Tsunami disaster.

Fitness First announced during its annual Momentum convention that all clubs will receive a Red Cross collection box and any money raised by the members and staff will be matched by Fitness First.

Similarly at David Lloyd Leisure (DLL), collection buckets have been placed in reception and lounge areas and clubs have come up with a range of activities to raise money.

These include keeping three treadmills going permanently for three days with members and staff paying to use them, a huge group cycling session incorporating bikes from a number of clubs and a sponsored toddlerthon in one of the club’s crèches.

DLL’s parent company, Whitbread, has also agreed to match employee donations up to £50,000.

Meanwhile, LA Fitness is actively collecting money on the streets as well as issuing all clubs with donation bucket. As a further incentive, it is offering a free month’s membership for any member who donates more than £10 to the appeal.

Other operators such Leisure Connection, LivingWell and Bannatyne’s have agreed to support any individual clubs that want to take part in the nationwide campaign.

Club appeals at Bannatyne’s sites include a series of Beat the Instructors challenges at the company’s Ayr gym where, for a donation, members can try and perform better times than their instructors on cardio equipment.

Bannatyne’s Health Club Newport has already held an Aerobathon comprising 16 classes from Aqua to Belly Dancing, while the Durham club is donating prizes for a charity auction to be held at the end of the month.

In addition to supporting individual club appeals, Harm Tegelaars, CEO of Cannons, is spearheading a concentrated appeal for a longer-term project in the region affected by the Tsunami, such as the building of orphanages and schools.