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A local fitness coach is urging islanders to walk 12,000 steps a day to help give a special Christmas to 12 families in Canada who lost their homes.
Personal Trainer Hollie McVittie has set up a fundraiser beginning next week, which will see islanders encouraged to get on their walking shoes in a global effort to get $1,000 to each of the families.
Hollie explained to Express how she has been working with two other fitness coaches - one in New York, Nora, and one in Canada, Jennie - to make monthly shows for their fitness and health YouTube channel, '3 Chicks Walk into a Bar'.
Jennie, the group's Canadian member, had to be evacuated from her North Okanagan home recently due to the 'White Rock Lake' forest fires, which spread up to 400 square km.
Video: '3 Chicks Walk Into a Bar' discussing the fundraiser on their channel.
"I know in parts of the world natural disasters are commonplace, but it's still shocking to experience it first hand like that, so she had to pack up with a great dane dog, her two kids and husband, and they just kept moving them further away," Hollie remarked.
Though Jennie's house was still standing when she was finally able to return though, she saw that her neighbours were not as fortunate.
"When they were eventually allowed back, her house was standing, although there was a lot of damages from animals that had come out of the forest like bears, bats etc," Hollie explained.
"But many of the houses were just completely burnt down, and twelve of the families didn't have insurance because they couldn't afford it, and so they are not going to be able to rebuild easily."
Pictured: The groups are challenge is split into three teams - Gold (Nora), Frankincense (Jennie) and Myrrh (Hollie).
At this point, the '3 Chicks' stepped into action, and Christmas, as they devised a plan to fundraise and help the families that had lost their homes at least have a decent Christmas.
Calling the challenge 'Step into Christmas', the group are encouraging both their own clients and those in their local communities to get involved, walking 12,000 steps a day from 1 to 12 November, donating what they can.
Anyone who registers will also receive two free zoom coaching sessions on the first and last days of the course.
The hope is to raise $12,000 ($1,000 for each family), with Jennie getting the money to them directly and using the co-ordinator in the community.
"We're going to get people all across our three countries... taking pictures of everywhere and what creative cardio they're doing," Hollie added, mentioning her clients from around the globe.
"It might going out with the horses in Botswana, South Africa or they might be walking out with moose in Sweden - because I've got people in Sweden - or they might be walking here with the Jersey cows!"
Pictured: Hollie trains a number of international clients, many of whom have decided to get involved too.
The groups will be split by their location - Gold (USA), Frankincense (Canada) and Myrrh (Jersey), with the group wanting anyone participating to share their team badge on social media.
However, for those less inclined to walk but still want to donate, the group are welcoming everyone to pitch in, and still offering the free zoom sessions to those that don't do the walk do register.
Though to anyone who is hesitant to get moving, Hollie reinforced that it doesn't "all have to be mega long walks."
"If you have a little Fitbit or cheaper version watch or a little pedometer to your hip, or even on your health settings on your phone... it's amazing how many steps you clock up just moving around at work."
With nearly 25 people rearing to do the challenge from around the world, including 18 of Hollie's own clients, she reiterated her passion for charity, and how it ties into her overall ethos.
She said: "It's just really important to give back, and I think that's the basis of coaching - the reason I coach is the joy it brings to see other people achieve, and doing charity work gives you that same sense of fulfilment for sure - and it's fun!"
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