Fitness expert Gary Rothwell launches ‘Healthy for the Homeless’ campaign

Forever-Strong Fitness and Performance gym

Former Army physical trainer Gary Rothwell has launched a ‘Healthy for the Homeless’ campaign: training and nutrition advice given in exchange for a donation towards the Feeding Rochdale Homeless charity.

The campaign, designed to give the people of Rochdale and Oldham the challenge of reducing their waistlines in just 21 days, has been set up to help those less fortunate during the festive period, which is traditionally associated with merriment, good will, giving and hope.

The concept came alive after Gary, who owns the Forever-Strong Fitness and Performance gym at Moss Mill Industrial Estate, mentioned the idea of the campaign with a member who also volunteers with Feeding Rochdale Homeless.

He said: “Forever-Strong Fitness and Performance also plans to raise pounds as well as lose them. Instead of charging for the training and nutrition advice, attendees can make a small donation to Feeding Rochdale Homeless, a local charity dedicated to supporting those who will be less fortunate during the festive period.

“As this is a season of giving and goodwill, I have decided that any gym membership fees for the individuals invited into the gym will go directly to help feeding those people who will not be in a position to enjoy Christmas and will require the help and hard work of volunteers to ensure they have food and warm clothes.”

He added: “Lots of people struggle with losing weight, not because they don’t want to, but because they don’t know how to do it effectively. I want to share the simple strategies we use with our clients to help more people transform their bodies and their lives and to do what we can to improve the health of people in the lead up to Christmas.

“Too many people put off their attempts to be healthy over the festive period and get worse. The New Year then often ends in failure for so many people. I want to help change this and their way of thinking towards it.”

Gary, who recently returned from Turin as a Double World Champion at Kettlebell Sport, also recently hosted a Kettlebell competition at his gym on Sunday 4 December to also help raise money and collect food and clothes for the charity.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/4/sport-news/105950/two-golds-for-gary-rothwell-at-world-kettlebell-championships

A spokesperson for Feeding Rochdale Homeless said “We are incredibly grateful to Gary and Forever-Strong Fitness and Performance for choosing to support us in this way.

“Encouraging the people of Rochdale to be healthy whilst supporting the homeless is admirable and we hope many people will take on this challenge.”

The gym will also continue to collect food, warm clothes, blankets and toiletries during the month of December.