Downtown
Eastside residents take up challenge
By Gerry
Bellett, Vancouver Sun January 22, 2010
 It's
a truism that every person of goodwill is only an
opportunity away from helping out.
North Vancouver fitness trainer Louise Green has been
helping out in the Downtown Eastside for a number of
years -- serving dinners on Christmas Day for the
homeless or setting up a free coffee and baked goods
stand on the corner of Main and Hastings at odd times
during the winter.
So six months ago she wondered if anyone in the DES
would be interested in her professional services. Would
they like to be put through boot camp -- an intense
cardio and fitness program that increases strength and
endurance and would enable people to take part in the
10k Sun Run?
"I called the Carnegie Centre and talked to Sandy [MacKeigan]
who said she'd like to get people from the area into the
Sun Run," Green said Thursday.
Last Sunday, Green and her partner Michelle Ricketts
held an open house at the centre to test the interest.
"We expected dribs and drabs but we got 50 people who
want to do the run and there's about another 20 who've
come in since," she said.
But there's a catch.
Many of the prospective runners and walkers -- some of
whom are homeless -- don't have proper running shoes.
So today, Michelle and Louise will be holding a drive-by
shoe donation at their Storm Fitness studio on 117 E.
First, North Vancouver,
"We'll start at 6:45 a.m. 'til 9 a.m. and people can
drop off their running shoes without even getting out of
their cars. Starbucks has donated coffee so we'll give
them a coffee," she said.
They will hold another running shoe donation drive-by at
the same time next Friday.
"We're hoping people will bring in shoes that are in
good condition we're hoping they're not trashed and have
some life left in them," she said.
MacKeigan, who is recreation director at the centre, was
amazed at the interest from people in the area who want
to get fit and enter the Sun Run.
"I thought maybe 20 or so but didn't expect as many as
we got," she said.
When Green offered to put on clinics, MacKeigan jumped
at the opportunity.
"I wanted to have a walk-run clinic because people here
are interested in keeping fit and we'd been talking
about it for some time, but we needed a fitness trainer
willing to do it," she said.
With Green's offer, she went out and solicited a $5,000
grant from the B.C. Recreation and Parks Association.
The grant will be used to buy food, water bottles and
supplies to be used during training and to pay the
runners' entrance fees in the Sun Run.
The clinics will be held every Sunday for the next 13
weeks at the centre.
So far the interest is greater among women than men,
said MacKeigan.
This year's Sun Run is on Mother's Day, May 9. To
register, go to www.sunrun.com or call 604-689-9441. |
Take action in 2010
Library event to inspire change
North Shore News
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Are you looking for motivation to start the new year off right?
Louise Green and Michelle Ricketts, owners of Storm Fitness Inc. --
a new North Shore fitness business -- are hosting a 2010 Action
Event on Jan. 7 at the Lynn Valley Library.
The event is intended to inspire and motivate action for 2010, not
just for their clients but for the entire North Shore community.
Since a new year always brings about new beginnings or endeavours,
Ricketts and Green wanted to plan the event while the audience is
interested and looking for support to start something new.
The two have aligned with other local businesses to educate the
community on what services are available and how we can all help our
community be our best.
"I have lived in North Van my entire life and I am proud to live in
a community that has so much to offer. We have some great businesses
with great people behind them," says Green.
The event will be a forum where people can come and check out the
services local business provide which may support them in their
personal actions for 2010. Whether it is reducing your carbon foot
print, finding a fitness program, eating local organic foods, start
a running program or to find more time for "you" through relaxation
and self care, it will all be here at this event.
Along with the business showcase, Ricketts and Green have partnered
with Matt Hill and Stephanie Tait, founders of Run for One Planet.
The duo will present their remarkable story of their journey around
North America to inspire and motivate environmental action. Hill and
Tait each ran a marathon a day for 369 days for our planet -- their
selfless account is something you will not want to miss.
The event will also include music, door prizes, sample food and
more. Storm Fitness Inc. is proud to host this event along with Run
for One Planet, Bloom Family Wellness, North Shore Athletics, Munch
Family Restaurant, Green Zebra and Organics at Home.
The 2010 Action Event takes place Thursday, Jan. 7 at the Lynn
Valley Library, main community room. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.,
speakers at 7:15 p.m. Entrance is by donation with all proceeds
going to Run for One Planet.
To reserve a seat please send an e-mail to info@stormfitness.ca, or
call 778.340.0444. |
What's Going
On ... In Vancouver
by
Belles
Plus
Louise Green from The Body Exchange in Vancouver and
Michelle Ricketts from Evolve Fitness have started a new
venture
Watch Me Lose It.
"We want to get back to the healthy lifestyle that we
encourage our clients to strive for every day".
It is easy for them to tell people how to make lifestyle
changes, but they both thought "showing" people would be
much more powerful and effective. This blog will be
their "bare all" journey of a collective 100-pound
weight loss over 10 months. A story that they hope their
clients and general public will identify with and
benefit from.
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