Community Fitness Network is once again running their Fitness for Food campaign as part of Community Fitness Week from Monday 5th until Sunday 11th October 2020.
The week, sponsored by Gymcatch, is aimed at getting people active through group exercise classes whilst raising vital supplies for the nation’s food banks.
2020 will be the second year the Fitness for Food campaign has run. Last year, group exercise instructors across the UK raised 125,000 food parcels through donations from class members, family and friends.
The week highlights the strengths community group exercise instructors have in bringing populations together through exercise through classes they run in venues such as church halls, community centres, and dance studios.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an extreme effect on the nation’s food banks. Earlier this year, the Independent reported that the Independent Food Aid network had seen a 175 per cent increase in requests for emergency food parcels in May 2020 alone.
As the UK continues to be affected by coronavirus, the demand on food banks is very much still present.
Claire Goodliff, Managing Director of Community Fitness Network, said, “Throughout the pandemic, group exercise instructors have continued to run classes virtually, keeping many people active from home. They have selflessly provided a lifeline to many through regular online sessions and checking in on those who have been isolated.
Their support in this campaign speaks volumes as to the nature of community fitness instructors; they work for the people. We are proud to be able to run our Fitness for Food campaign for a second year running and are in no doubt that this will be another successful year.”
Last year, EMD UK, the national governing body for group exercise, partnered with Community Fitness Network in making a large donation of food to the Gateshead Food Bank. This year, EMD UK have committed to making another donation to the Fitness for Food campaign.
Brett Pearson, Head of Sales and Marketing for EMD UK, said, “We have seen the difference physical activity makes to the physical, mental, and social health of the nation.
Group exercise is a community and, as such, we want to be sure the nation has the food it needs to survive and thrive in these times.
We are proud to see hundreds of instructors across the UK once again being a support line for communities and donating their time and efforts to this worthy cause.”
Community Fitness Week takes places Monday 5th – Sunday 11th October. For more information, please visit their website here.