Local Man Creates Virtual Fitness Challenge For Mental Health Awareness

Joe Keating of Peterborough has created the 4,000 Reps for Mental Health Awareness virtual fitness challenge to raise mental health awareness on Saturday.

Joe Keating ran the campaign saying working on mental health is as important as physical health. Photo Courtesy of Joe Keating.

Keating will perform 4,000 kettlebell swings on his front lawn (weather pending) live on Messenger Rooms — 1,000 times an hour for four hours — and encourages anyone to join.

The 4,000 reps can be anything so long as participants are physically active. Running 4,000 steps, jumping jacks or jump rope skips as some of many alternative exercises Keating suggests for the challenge.

He was diagnosed with clinical depression in 2015. He struggled and had a hard time with it before reaching out. Keating’s doctor advised him to do more physical activity to help him cope with his illness.

“I’m a certified kettlebell instructor,” he said. “It’s my go-to exercise. If I had a bad day, it’s something I can pick up, swing it and bang out a couple of reps to feel better.”

The pandemic has limited physical activity options and the event is another outlet to exercise according to Joe. Photo Courtesy of Joe Keating.

The campaign’s goal is to help erase the stigma of having a mental illness and open up a conversation about having one without feeling shame.

“I’ve always been very open about it,” said Keating. “Some people still seem to be too afraid to still talk about it and not talking about it can lead down to a dark path like suicide.”

There are approximately 4,000 suicides annually in Canada which is why the event encourages that many reps according to Keating.

Alexis Keating, 11, Joe’s daughter, will participate with her own kettlebell lifts for the event. Photo Courtesy of Joe Keating.

When the event was put on social media, the response was overwhelmingly positive in ways Keating had not anticipated.

“It was way bigger than what I was expecting. “ he said. “I thought it was going to be with family and friends and in my close-knit group. I have people from Vegas, Calgary and a team from Montreal going.”

If the event is successful, it could become an annual challenge that could include fundraising said Keating.

The free event will run on April 24 at 10:00 a.m. Head to the event’s Facebook Page for more details.

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Local Campaign for Mental Health and Fitness Explodes Overnight

What was supposed a neighbourhood project to get growing children to be active for mental health has turned into a city-wide campaign with sponsors and prizes on Monday.

PTBOCanada has become one of many sponsors to be a part of the free t-shirt giveaway and the campaign. Photo Courtesy of Mark Westlake.

Founded by Mark Westlake and stepdaughter Lili McAnerin, “Stay Strong and Be Positive” encourages youth from ages 10-16 to go outside and be active though anyone is encouraged to participate. The campaign will last until May 20, the date the Ontario shutdown will allegedly end.

Physical activity helps against the rising cases of declining mental health in that age group especially when the pandemic has limited outdoor play says Westlake.

“We’re looking for 10 to 16-year-olds to be outside and be active and limit more of their screen time where all the negativity is right now,” he said. “There’s so much negativity in the world, we wanted to create something more positive and see what influence we can do.”

Westlake’s children cycling atop Faryon Bridge at Trent University. Photo Courtesy of Mark Westlake.

The campaign originally had 500 free t-shirts made up for kids but with help of sponsors like Suzuki Canada, Cameron Cycle and Powell Powersports, the number has doubled to 1,000.

Westlake has got numerous amounts of calls from sponsors who want to be a part of the campaign. Daily prizes will be given for the kids aged 10-16 including a grand prize of a BMX bike and kayak both valued at $750 apiece given on the final day.

A fundraiser will be set up to raise money for youth charities says Westlake.

The shirts are given to families who have at least one participating child and come in the colours pink, red, orange and yellow.

“Maybe this is the something community needed to get the kids to get a little bit of encouragement to boost the morale in a positive way,” said Westlake. “You need that outlet, young or old.”

To participate, you can visit the Facebook page for more details as shirts are limited to the first 1,000 participants.

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Fleming Fire Combat Team Takes FireFit Nationals By Storm

Congrats to the Fleming Fire Combat Team, which took the Canadian 2018 National FireFit Championships in Calgary by storm. They brought home a National bronze medal in the co-ed relay and a silver medal in the co-ed X3 division.

The team has gained much momentum since its inception in 2014, and over the last three years brought home National medals competing against the fastest and fittest firefighters from across Canada.  

Photo courtesy Fleming College

Seven national qualifying students and two coaches travelled to Calgary to compete against the best at the Canadian National FireFit Championships, which was televised by TSN. This year, the team upped their game by not only competing against other schools but also competing in the Open category as a way to be considered equals in the sport.

The 2018 Fleming Fire Combat Team was comprised of two volunteer coaches: full-time firefighter Shawna Coulter and 2015 team Alumni Trevor Russell. The team included Kendal Freshwater, Gaelen Palleske, Drew Goble, Kaylea Brunatti, Eric Fregonas, Mak Hope and Logan Cornelius. (Team member Janell Stonehouse was unable to attend this year’s competition.)

“I am very proud of the team’s outstanding effort and dedication,” says Shawna Coulter. “It is a huge commitment for these young people and often a juggling act between academic, work and training schedules. The team took on the challenge with enthusiasm. Their drive and genuine love for the sport is demonstrated at every practice and at every competition.”

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