A TONBRIDGE gym beat its own fundraising record after holding a gruelling 18 hour ‘Spinathon’ on Armistice Day (Friday 11 November), in aid of the Poppy Appeal.
Peak Fitness Health & Fitness Club, managed to raise over £3,000 for the British Legion’s annual appeal, surpassing the previous year’s total.
Organised by Club Manager Julie Poole annually since 2014, the event saw over 100 volunteers put their stamina to the test by spending hours on exercise bikes. Gym users and the wider community were asked to donate in support of those taking up the pedalling challenge.
Starting at 6am and ending at midnight, the marathon included efforts from Tonbridge Police, gym instructors and two support staff from Sir Bradley Wiggins’ cycling team.
Ms Poole said: “I think everyone was amazing, they were all full of energy and laughter throughout the whole event, even the glow sticks and disco lights were out for the 10pm – midnight slot. All the bikes were full and the atmosphere just kept everyone going. Of course the Prosecco at the end helped.
“When you think about it an 18 hour Spinathon is nothing compared to what our armed forces past and present have given up for us.”
She applauded the individuals who stayed on the bokes for four hours and thanked the town’s ‘supportive and generous’ community. Ms Poole, however, refuses to rest on her laurels and already has her sights firmly set on 2017.
“Next year we will be back on the bikes for 21 hours and this continues along our theme of adding 3 hours on each year to show how long WW1 went on for. Our final year, 2018, will be 24 hours to celebrate 100 years since WW1 finished,” she said.
