By Alesha Capone
A Facebook group run by the co-owner of a Hoppers Crossing gym has been awarded a $7000 grant by the social media giant.
Brydon Coles, who runs the Back on Track Fitness studio on Geelong Road with wife Jenna, also runs a Facebook group for Back on Track members.
The group, which has more than 280 members, was recently announced as the recipient of a grant from Facebook Australia’s Groups Fund.
Facebook established the $500,000 fund to support local groups which organise activities to boost the wellbeing of communities affected by drought, bushfires and COVID-19.
Mr Coles said he was planning to use the $7000 grant to organise community health and fitness seminars for Wyndham residents, featuring experts such as osteopaths and nutritionists.
Mr Coles said he hoped to organise the sessions once pandemic restrictions eased.
He said that since 2014, the Back on Track Fitness studio has been involved in many Wyndham-based fundraising and charity events.
“We’re big on raising money for charity and also helping people improve their quality of life,” Mr Coles said.
“We do it because we really love doing it and helping the community.”
For the past five years, the Hoppers Crossing fitness studio has taken part in the Wyndham Relay for Life, an annual event which raises funds for the Cancer Council Victoria.
Last year, members of the studio’s Relay for Life team raised $5500, and ran a whopping 550 kilometres across 24 hours.
Earlier this year, the fitness studio also raised $48,000 for the Salvation Army’s Disaster Relief Fund, which assists bushfire victims.
