September 2018
The UK’s No 1 fitness industry magazine
Gym gives pensioner a charitable lift By Oliver Dyson
XTREME Gym has gone above and beyond to help a veteran power lifter get back on the weights. At 87, veteran power lifter Tom Johnston is still getting to practise the sport, thanks to a partnership between Essex’s Xtreme Gym and charity enterprise the Wishing Washing Line. Run by FaNs (Friends and Neighbours) Network, it lets residents of nearby care homes post wishes on public washing lines for people to help with. Dementia sufferer Tom had his wish, to see a weightlifting competition, placed on the washing line in a local Tesco. It was spotted by Xtreme gym member Simon Cheek. That led to gym manager Damian Rees visiting Tom with staff member Adam Fosbrook and the rest, as they say, is history. They made his wish come true by taking him to a competition at Hamilton’s gym in Colchester. Damian said: “Tom got on the stage, did a lift brilliantly to everyone’s amazement and passionately requested to do another with more weight on. He was so happy, it made everyone’s day.” Since his big lift, stories have emerged from gym members who knew popular Tom from his days on the weightlifting scene. And Xtreme’s support continues with Tom now an honorary
Tom Johnston completes his lift at the competition he visited thanks to Xtreme Gym. Picture: Luke Sayer. member, working alongside Adam to train regularly and enjoy the gym environment. “Since the competition he has had a new lease of life. His dementia has improved. Re-igniting his passion for power lifting has brought benefit to his mental health and memories,” Damian said. “He visits whenever he can to train and enjoy a day out. “Tom has issues with his knees, so we cater for this with lots of care and love, plenty of rest – and cups of tea – in
between his training. “We have a motto at Xtreme which is never give up. I think my saying is more apt, and Tom is a sterling example of it: ‘You are as young today as you are ever going to be’. Do it now because in ten years time, you’ll look back and wish you did.” Tom’s enthusiasm for the gym has led to his care home building a cabin for him, with kit supplied by Xtreme, to use when he can’t reach the gym. Tom’s story was covered by the BBC and on national radio, with 276,000 views online. It has led to FaNs Network receiving a commendation certificate after experiencing a boom in users. “We have created what’s more like a family at the gym,” Damian said. “Our aim is to be as diverse as possible but with everyone having a similar goal - to work hard in the gym and get results.” Charity work isn’t unusual at Xtreme. Owner Brad Rogers took on the gym in October last year and has supported charities through personal feats – climbing Mount Kilamanjaro, and taking on two Saharan marathons – and through events at the Chelmsford gym too. “What’s brilliant is all we did is go and chat to an old boy and take him out for a few hours. And it then snowballed into helping so many others in so many ways,” Damian said. “We want to make a difference wherever we can, especially in our local community.”
No 300 £3
Awards return to Leicester
THE NATIONAL Fitness Awards is making a surprise return to Leicester … And it seems as though it’s a popular decision! We previously announced plans to move the glittering event to Liverpool’s Aintree Racecourse but, unfortunately, the venue is now unable to host the event due to a change of plan. Thankfully, WorkOut and Script Events were able to work with the Athena in Leicester, the venue for the awards in recent years, to secure this prestigious setting once again. Events organiser Simone Saunders said: “We are really grateful to the team at the Athena who kindly stepped in and saved the day after we were unable to proceed with our previous plans through no fault of our own. “We have spoken to our sponsors and to many nominees and the unexpected move seems to have gone down really well as The Athena is a fabulous venue and a fitting backdrop for the fitness industry’s largest free-to-enter awards.” The change means the awards will now take place a week earlier than previously planned, on November 30 instead of December 7.