The team from Vanguard Fitness Lithgow will be pumping out more than 2500 burpees on Saturday to raise money for bowel cancer research.
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Owner and head coach at Vanguard Fitness Phil Evans said the cause was very close to his team’s heart. Two of the gym’s members Emily and Christy Dyson lost their mother Gloria to the disease in April this year.
“We’ve also got quite a few members who have got experiences within their family with bowel cancer as it’s very prevalent in our society,” Phil said.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates bowel cancer will be come the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia in 2017.
It is also estimated that the risk of an individual being diagnosed with bowel cancer by their 85th birthday will be 1 in 13 in 2017.
The team has smashed through their original target of $2000 and are now aiming to eclipse the $3000 mark.
“We just want to get as much money towards the research as we can,” Phil said.
What is a burpee? Find out in the video below.
Following the regular Saturday morning boot camp and CrossFit sessions, Vanguard will open up the gym to the public at 11am to begin the continuous burpee challenge.
“Our aim is to not stop, we will have somebody doing a burpee for the entire time until we hit the target we’re aiming for.”
Phil said the team was up for the challenge.
“When it comes down to it anything like this is going to be physically taxing, mentally taxing. You want to stop but we know we’ve got a target and a reason for doing it.”
A host of Vanguard fitness members will be chipping in including Phil’s sons Hutch and Zeke, aged 11 and 13.
“Maybe even my 74-year-old father might come and jump in,” Phil said.
“We welcome anyone who wants to do some burpees. We’re hoping for people to come and have a look and see us sweat it out but they’re also welcome to jump in and contribute.”
The new Salud coffee van will be on hand to supply the crowd with hot drinks.
You can catch the continuous burpee challenge at Vanguard Fitness Lithgow from 11am-2pm on Saturday, July 1.
To donate by visit the Get Behind Bowel Cancer Awareness Month fundraising webpage.
