Planet Fitness is also using the opportunity for fundraising. On 27 April, R110 000 was raised by 121 indoor riders in a 4-hour online cycle challenge in partnership with Sasfin, and the Smile Foundation (https://smilefoundationsa.org).
Says Elson:
“The aim was to raise money for the frontline workers of the Smile Foundation
to buy masks – and to keep food on the table. Planet Fitness will be
crowdfunding with Smile Foundation again on 14 May. This time the 50 Shades
Fitter online floor workout will be held to raise R50,000.
“These
events keep people busy and, with the greater good as a purpose, they are
definitely proving to be an outlet for those who want to stay motivated and be
inspired by something a bit more out of the box.”
Many
fitness brands and gyms won’t survive the COVID-19 crisis, but for those who
do, a new sense of mission has emerged.
A webinar recently
hosted for the gym industry by the World Health Organisation (WHO) highlighted
the role that the gym community can play in reaching out to people who are
older or less active, with messages around exercising at the right level, the
right intensity, and the right speed.
Elson took
part in the webinar, and came away with a key insight: “For gyms of the future,
there is a real opportunity and a chance for the industry to take stock moving
forward because, collectively, the world is not active enough. Clubs can move
beyond the four walls and become more engaged with communities and much more
connected with the local and national agenda to promote physical activity by
being a real partner in future.”
• Arthur Goldstuck is founder of World Wide Worx and editor-in-chief of Gadget.co.za. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram on @art2gee
Pages: 1 2 3
