New downtown fitness centre gives back

The owner of a new business in the downtown core is lending a hand to help the Downtown Mission.

True Fitness owner Luis Mendez said the growing needs of the homeless population in Windsor pushed him to create a fundraising fitness challenge event Oct. 19.

In 2016, a survey by the City of Windsor and the Homeless Coalition of Windsor Essex County found that there are about 201 homeless people in Windsor on any given night.

“We wanted to do an event in the downtown area that was going to raise awareness towards the issues that we’re having with higher levels of homelessness [and] individuals needing those extra resources for food and shelter,” said Mendez, who opened True Fitness on Ouellette Avenue this past summer.

The Charity Team Challenge is an event where Windsorites sign up in teams of four to go through a series of fitness tests, wellness trivia and other fun games and activities throughout the day.

 There is a registration fee of $50 per team and individual members are encouraged to raise pledges toward a donation pool. All the money raised will be given to the Downtown Mission.

 Mendez also said it is important for small businesses to give back to the community, especially to the surrounding neighborhoods.

“As an independent business owner and as a small business in our great city of Windsor, we get to live out our dreams through the community,” said Mendez.

“I think it’s important that we take part in events that not only raise awareness but also raise funds for local charity groups as a way of giving back and being active in the community.”

Mendez’s goal is to raise $5,000 to $7,000 this year, but he also wants the Charity Team Challenge to become an annual event.

 Jim Douglas, the development officer and fundraising coordinator at the Downtown Mission, said the funds are needed.

 “Their gift is going to help in a lot of different ways, whether it’s to help feed people, whether it’s to provide counselling for people with drug or alcohol issues or to help shelter people in our men’s, women’s or youth dormitories,” said Douglas.

Douglas said it is encouraging that a new business like True Fitness wants to raise funds for the mission.

Donald Bell, who is staying at the mission, said he appreciates people at the mission and those who help the organization with events like the Charity Team Challenge.

 “They treat you like family here…it means the world. They have the biggest heart that I know,” said Bell.