Pushing to spread cheer

The kingdom’s health enthusiasts are being urged to take part in a global challenge with the aim of making it into the record books as well as raising funds for a worthwhile charity.

The internationally-acclaimed US-based fitness and personal development company Training For Warriors (TFW) is staging a ‘Push-ups for a Purpose’ event on Sunday, in which every member must complete as many push-ups as possible, at the same time, in a minute.

For every push-up performed participants and sponsors are being asked to donate $1 to the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund, a non-profit organisation whose mission is to support families battling childhood cancer with financial, emotional and practical support.

Esraa Janahi, a part-time rehabs training instructor and the TFW Bahrain representative and organiser, is proud to be a part of such a great initiative and urges others to follow suit in donating to the cause.

The event is being staged at Fitness First in the Bahrain World Trade Centre and gym-goers are all invited to participate. She said: “A lot of us live every day, blinded by what people suffering from childhood cancer face.

“This challenge not only gives awareness to the disease but it also encourages people to go out and show their support. It’s a great way to get fit, network with other like-minded people and spread some good cheer across the world.

“While I will not be collecting the funds myself, I do encourage people on the day to take a tally of how many push-ups performed in that minute and donate that amount to the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund website just like everyone-else will be doing around the world.”

Aside from being part of a charity initiative, the TFW venues also aim to set a new Guinness Book of Records achievement for the most people doing push-ups in the same minute around the world. The current record is 700.

People can start registering for the event from 7.30pm and it starts at 8.30pm sharp, Bahrain time.There will be two witnesses, a steward and a time-keeper, to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Esraa added: “The witness makes sure that push-ups are being done correctly and doesn’t drop within the minute so that every participant counts for the record. A member can do only three push-ups and then hold a plank until that minute is up.”

After the challenge, there will be a raffle draw featuring a number of prizes including gifts from the Crowne Plaza Hotel and the Westin Hotel City Centre Bahrain, as well as a Kinetics Sports item.

*To donate and for more details, visit www.tcjayfund.org