A pair of energetic gym workers are exercising for a staggering 24 hours straight to raise money for a cancer charity after the horrendous disease touched both their lives. Mark Coulson, 38, owner of MSC Performance gym in Birmingham city centre, and strength and conditioning coach Steve Foster, 45, will be taking part in the gruelling challenge from 10am on Saturday, May 16, until 10am Sunday, May 17.
The two men will also be completing other fitness challenges on the hour every hour, as well as working out alongside members of the gym community, who will be coming in to support them. Exercises being undertaken during the Herculean task will include using the ski, rowing and cycling machines, as well as pushing a heavy sledge along a track. Mark, who lost his dad John to cancer, and Steve, who is a cancer survivor, are aiming to raise £10,000 for MacMillan Cancer Support.
Mark said MSC gym was celebrating its 10-year anniversary and so there would be 10 different events to raise money for charity, but this weekend’s challenge was certainly “the hardest”.
He said he was taking part to honour his father John’s memory, adding: “We’re doing this to make some good out of what is a bad situation for many people and to promote awareness, and to help build and develop a community within the gym.
“We are 10 years old this year, so we have 10 charity challenges, we’ve done a quiz, we’re doing the three peaks, but this is certainly one of the hardest challenges.”
Steve added: “Being diagnosed in my 20s with testicular cancer I am always happy to get involved and raise some money to help support those who are going through similar situations and know the support MacMillan offer is invaluable.
“It’s a 24-hour challenge, where we will be doing a 24-hour workout, we will be skiing, rowing, cycling and sledge pushing non-stop.
“Then every hour, on the hour, we will be spinning a ‘wheel of fortune’, on which there will be 14 different challenges for us to do every hour. People can pay £20 to put their name on the wheel.
“Members of the gym community are also able to book in and work with us over the 24 hours, which they can book in one-hour slots.”
To donate to the gym’s fundraising page visit this link.
