It’s viral – in a good way! Fitness vid for elderly is an online hit
YOU’RE never to old to want to stay in shape – and a Cork grandfather who appears to live by this philosophy has gone viral, with an exercise video for older people isolating themselves at home.
Former hurler Kevin Cummins received more than 100,000 online hits for his video, in which he groans and curses his way through exercises designed to encourage older people to keep fit during the coronavirus outbreak.
The video was meant to be a bit of comic relief on the family WhatsApp group, but it has since been shared around the world.
Mr Cummins, 75, was a minor hurling star for Cork before going on to co-found the Cummins sports shop chain in Cork.
The video, posted on the Cummins Sports Facebook page, got nearly 90,000 views in its first 24 hours on Tuesday – and has since gone on to amass a total of over 100,000.
It shows Mr Cummins trying stretches he saw on a fitness video by Irish Amateur Open champion golfer Peter O’Keeffe – the husband of his niece, Mary-Claire. The exercises involved placing a broom behind his back, which he is not able to do, and moving his head from one side to the other, which he does with a great deal of swearing and moaning.
The family insists that Mr Cummins was in on the joke and that his cranky demeanour in the hilarious footage is good acting for the camera.
The success of the video means that he will be doing a series over the next few weeks – and thousands of people have posted messages wishing him well.
The Cummins Sports Facebook page posted: ‘I think we all need a bit of cheering up at the moment, and this video will definitely do just that. For those of you interested in joining “Kevin’s Fitness Journey”, be sure to get yourself suited and booted on www.cumminssports.ie. PS. This started off as a bit of fun in our family WhatsApp, it has now gone viral.’