Santa’s all heart

Photo: Laura Wild

'Santa Invasion' at Fitness First Gym

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People arriving at Fitness First gym, Sandbrook Park for their workout had to look twice as they walked through the door because the gym was filled with ‘Santa’s.’ The festive fun, however, was all for a good cause. The gym held its very own ‘Santa Invasion’ tonight (Wednesday 16 December) to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

The idea came from the gym’s Health and Fitness Manager, Rich Ainley, he said: “About six of seven weeks ago I thought how great it would be to have a gym full of Santa’s, I passed the idea on to head office and it went from there.”

Fitness First decided to do the same thing across all its gyms in the north-west, with members and non-members paying £5 for a machine for the evening, to use for as long as they want. All of the money raised will go to the British Heart Foundation who work closely with the gym.

Mr Ainley added: “Santa dashes happen all the time and the one restriction is the weather, so by doing it in the gym there is no restriction, we haven’t set a time limit or a distance on the machines because it is about having a laugh and raising money at the same time.

“Tonight is about putting the fun into fundraising.”

Amongst those taking part was the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Keith Swift, he said: “The people here at fitness first are not only thinking of their own health and fitness by taking part in the Santa Invasion but they are also thinking of the British Heart Foundation and they should be applauded by everyone."