Club’s fitness expo raising bar - and funds
A fitness fundraiser is helping people get into shape, as well as helping future lifeguards.
At the weekend the New Plymouth Old Boys’ Surf Lifesaving Club hosted a fitness expo at the club’s Oakura base, raising money for its junior surf division.
‘‘Our membership’s growing and they’re going to be our future lifeguards,’’ said fundraising committee member Maria Townsend. ‘‘We want to make sure they’ll have the right equipment.
‘‘A lot of our people are into training or beach running but we’re trying to get them to think about other ways of fitness as well.’’
The activities over the weekend ranged from strength and conditioning classes, to pilates, boxfit, yoga, tai chi and holistic health workshops.
All of the trainers provided their time free of charge, she said.
‘‘It’s an opportunity for these guys to become wider known in the area as well, so hopefully it’s a win-win.’’
They also wanted a mixture of different things so there was something for everyone.
‘‘We tried to find classes that would work for different age groups as well.
‘‘This morning it was chocka for pilates and it was great. There were a lot of people who had never done pilates before.’’
They are looking at turning it into an annual event.
Fellow fundraiser Heather Horo said it was a good environment to try out a class.
‘‘You’re not turning up to a class where they’ve been doing it for two years and you feel uncomfortable,’’ she said. ‘‘There’s lots of new people.’’
Joe Fepuleai, aka Joe the Body Transformer, said it was all about helping the community get fitter and healthier.
‘‘It’s all about that transformation, transforming people’s lives, helping kids.’’