A PAIR of Ardrossan sisters have told how exercising has helped them through tough times – so they got their sweat on to fundraise for the NHS.
Stephanie Walker, 29, and Natalie Smith, 35, said keeping up with the fitness community virtually means looking forward to seeing smiles ever day.
Natalie said: “It’s such a miserable time right now.
“I’ve had my ups and downs, days when I’ve been crying my eyes out, but anytime you switch that button on to see my sister, it’s so amazing to see people smiling.”
Natalie suggested the siblings do a charity fundraiser and get as many people from the community involved as they could.
They teamed up together with fitness instructors from across the UK to ‘Sweat for the NHS’. The siblings held a series of online exercise classes streamed for people all over the world.
Natalie said: “My sister know all about virtual fitness classes and she’s got a lot of contacts with instructors from all over.
“The amount of money, amount of smiles, the positive energy, it cheered you up, brought a tear of joy to your eye and made to realise you’re not alone.”
Stephanie runs SWFitness Gym and, since lockdown, has adapted the business to provide clients with the same service virtually.
She said: “Every week I’ve been supporting the NHS by doing the clap. But it hit me that I’ve got the safety and ability to work from home, but there are people out there every single day in the hospitals, delivering meals, transporting patients, everybody in these vulnerable situations, and I wanted to give something back to them.”
Asking for a donation of £10 per household, Stephanie and a host of other instructors held all kinds of virtual exercise classes streamed live on Zoom.
The event, Sweat for the NHS, raised £1,580, which the sisters hope can be used to buy whatever the frontline workers require.
The pair also know how beneficial the work-outs are for those taking part.
Stephanie said: “You can have ups and downs, it’s the strangest feeling.
“It’s our job to be positive and be motivating, but if you’re having a down day, the minute you see your clients it pulls you right up. It’s them that keeps you motivated.”
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