A community gym in Tindale is celebrating the New Year by inviting members, old and new, to join in with a fundraising get-fit exercise.
Fit and Healthy Gym at the Aucklandgate Centre, Tindale Crescent, is ran by members of the community for the benefit of the local people; after consultation with residents in the area, goals are set and trained volunteers do their best to meet the community’s stated needs.
The gym is self-funding, its chairperson, Samantha Pascoe said, “All our income is generated by ourselves through fund raising, sponsorship, grants and through our members themselves.”
It is with fundraising in mind that the gym has come up with its latest initiative; a sponsored calorie burn. Members will ask friends, family and colleagues to sponsor their attempts to burn off 5,000 calories between the beginning of February and the end of March.
Samantha said that people should not be put off by the perceived scale of the task, as a ‘little by little’ approach would reap great rewards. Speaking of the challenge, she said, “This is very achievable, as the rowing machine, treadmill and bike will show calories burnt, and the easyline toning equipment used for 20 minutes burns 140 calories.”
Sam said that new members and volunteers of all abilities would be welcomed with open arms. She said, “This is a place where people can feel comfortable with themselves. “All the volunteers make people feel very welcome, very comfortable. In this environment there is no competition about who looks best.”
The gym has been running for two years and is part of the legacy of the Wellness on Wheels program. Julie Tyrie, an employee of Durham County Council who works with the gym, said that the gym did it’s best to offer, “Affordable, low-cost exercise on peoples’ doorsteps.”
Veronica Spoors, a member, spoke of her positive experiences of the gym. She said that exercising there was a good way to meet new people and added, “It is a good way to socialise with people.” All money raised by the scheme will be re-invested into the gym, to buy new equipment for the use of the local community.
The gym is currently open Monday to Thursday between 9.30am – 10.30am and 6.00pm – 8.00pm, although the gym is looking for volunteers who can help expand the service. If you would like to become a member or volunteer at the gym, call Samantha Pascoe on 01388 603780.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
