By Alesha Capone
Generous businesses and groups across Wyndham have come together to raise funds for survivors of the bushfire crisis.
Among them is CrossFit Hoppers Crossing, which will host Burpees For The Bush Fires on Saturday at 9am.
Gym owners, Brett Duffy and Loren Lauder, said participants would complete a burpee for every dollar donated to the appeal.
They are hoping to raise $30,000, and have already hit $29,075, including through online donations.
Several other gyms have also joined in the efforts and will be hosting their own Burpees For The Bush Fires events, including a gym in Maryland, USA, CrossFit Essendon, Cardinia CrossFit, CrossFit Craigieburn, CrossFit 3018, Crossfit Calder, CrossFit STR, CrossFit 3340, CrossFit Westbourne-Braybrook , Sovereign City CrossFit, CrossFit Health Creation , Uce Box Fitness and CrossFit Warragul 3820.
At a separate burpees’ event, which will be held on Saturday 9am, Back on Track Fitness in Hoppers Crossing will raise funds for The Salvation Army Disaster Relief Fund.
The gym’s fundraising efforts, titled Wyndham Community Bushfire Appeal, so far raised more than $47,000.
In addition, the Werribee Business & Tourism Association, Tonia T Boutique and The Park Hotel will host a Bushfire BINGO event on Thursday this week. Tonia Tribe, from Tonia T Boutique, said that mostly Watton Street businesses, and also Werribee Mansion, had donated to the event.
Last week, The Hoppers Club hosted a family event and major raffle for bushfire affected communities, to which 70 prizes were donated.
The night raised more than $10,000, which prompted club chairman Ron Eggleton to say: “To see so many locals together for a single cause does restore faith in the community.”
The Ford Muscle Car Club Melbourne also held a car display and vehicle battery collection in partnership with Autobarn Hoppers Crossing, raising more than $1300.
