BRUNSWICK, Maine — Fitness enthusiasts broke a sweat Saturday while raising more than $16,000 in an effort to help fight hunger insecurity in Maine.
For the past decade, Wilcox Wellness & Fitness locations in Bangor and Brunswick have hosted their annual "Burpees for Turkeys" fundraiser. For every $5 donated to United Ways of Maine, gym trainers perform one burpee.
"I love helping people feel and be their best," Allison Hopkins, who owns the Brunswick location, said. "It’s incredibly rewarding to have people come in every day and share with us how their training impacts them in their daily lives."
Hopkins and others stress the importance of nutrition as part of a healthy lifestyle, but she notes that reliable access to food can be a struggle for many people in the community.
"Food insecurity is real here in Maine," the trainer said.
Roughly 180,000 people in Maine are currently facing hunger, according to recent data from Feeding America.
Funds raised from Saturday's event would be sent out to organizations in the region, including Midcoast Youth Center and People Plus, that help support those who are struggling with food insecurity.
The more $10,000 raised at the Brunswick location kept participants moving, with the pledge translating to more than 2,000 burpees.
“Every burpee matters," Hopkins said. "Every burpee equates to 10 meals for hungry families, so it makes the sweat a little easier to take."
In total, both locations raised more than $16,000 to help provide some relief for local families.
Transforming sweat into strength has never been more rewarding, Hopkins explained.
"When we can be our best, it ripples into our community in all kinds of meaningful ways," she said. "It just all comes around, full circle, in so many beautiful ways."