Gym hosts fundraiser to help returned veterans

Published 2:00pm 6 April 2022

With Anzac Day just weeks away, one Moreton Bay gym is thanking those who have served our country by hosting a fundraiser that will benefit returned servicemen and women.

Crossfit 505 in Burpengary is challenging its members and local community to sweat it out on Saturday, April 23, where a Hero Workout of the Day (WOD) will be held every two hours over a 12-hour period from 6am-6pm.

Every Hero Workout is a tribute to a fallen first responder or member of the military who died while serving honorably in the line of duty.

Crossfit505 owner Evan Morris and member Kelly Henricksen from Crossfit 505 are the driving force behind the fundraiser.

say the gym is thrilled to host this fundraiser, with all proceeds being donated to Survive To Thrive Nation - a profit for purpose organisation that supports the mental health and transitioning of current and former service personnel, first responders and their families back into the civilian world.

“We have a lot of service members in our gym – police, army, nurses – and we wanted to do something that honours them and those that have protected our country,” Kelly says.

“We thought it would be awesome to connect with a charity and raise money, especially with Anzac Day this month.

“One of our members is an ambassador for Survive To Thrive Nation, so we knew that was the perfect organisation for us to help.

“We are passionate about helping the community, and this is just another way we are giving back.”

Picture: Kelly Henricksen shows off one of the movements in the Hero Workouts.

Join the fun

Crossfit505 have selected workouts that are inclusive for everyone to join.

“It was very important to us that we chose workouts everyone can do,” Kelly says.

“People can choose to do one WOD or more – it’s completely up to the individual.

“But we have options and modifications for all people and their partners, so they can complete the challenges.

“We want people to honour the workouts and pay tribute to our service man and woman.”

The club is asking for a $5 donation for each workout you would like to complete, with 100 per cent of the money raised sponsoring veterans on the Survive To Thrive Nation program.

The gym will also have collection tins available on the day.

Picture: Crossfit505 owner Evan, who is also a head coach and full-on athlete.

Helping the brave

Survive To Thrive Nation was formed by Dane Christison, a former infantry soldier of the 5/7 battalion Royal Australian Regiment, who served in East Timor and Iraq.

“I created this program because during my own recovery of Post-Traumatic Stress and after having a very negative experience of transitioning back to civilian life, I realised that we are trained to go to war, but we are not trained to come home,” Dane says in a promotional video on the Survive To Thrive Nation website.

“And this program, it does exactly that. The Survive To Thrive program is aimed at every single current and former service personnel member and has been proven to be incredibly affective in; Prevention of mental health adversities; Intervention in mental health adversities such as PTSD, anxiety, depression and anger management; and transitioning back to civilian life.”

The Survive To Thrive Program is an eight module, online, evidence-based personal development course designed for current and former service personnel to reach their full potential in mental health and transitioning back to civilian life.,

Speaking to Moreton Daily, Dane says the support they receive from the community is crucial to ensuring veterans receive the help they need.

“We are a profit-for-purpose organisation, which means 100 per cent of all money goes towards sponsoring veterans into the program, meaning no veteran ever has to pay for our service,” Dane says.

“The sacrifices veterans experience goes way beyond the battlefield – with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, anger management – so community events like this are great in helping veterans know there is support available.

“We are extremely thankful for the support we get from the community.”

Survive To Thrive Nation has also gone through two clinical trials, and Dane says the organisation has changed and saved thousands of lives.