When it comes to making a difference, Heath Barwick and the team at Van Demon Fitness are setting the bar high – literally. With a history of organising intense 24-hour fitness challenges for important causes, their upcoming event (22-23 February 2025) is dedicated to raising funds for Shake It Up and Parkinson’s research. Motivated by their members’ personal connections to Parkinson’s, this event is a testament to the power of community fundraising, the willingness of inspiring individuals to step out of their comfort zone and come together for a worthy cause.
Can you tell us about your past 24-hour challenges and what inspired them?
Van Demon Fitness have run two other 24-hour challenges previously, one for Breast Cancer Australia and the other for men’s mental health. Both of these came about through members that were either themselves dealing with these issues or their close family members.
Why did you choose to raise funds for Parkinson’s research and Shake It Up this year?
The choice to raise funds for Shake It Up came exactly the same way. We asked our members to put forward the charities close to their hearts, and then we did a simple vote. We had an amazing member, EJ, who had Parkinson’s and unfortunately has recently passed away. We have a member’s mother suffering from Parkinson’s and a client of my wife’s who also has Parkinson’s, so this is a charity we want to throw our full support behind.
What can you tell us about the event?
Our event will have teams of 4 people performing as many full HYROX rounds as possible in 24 hours. The HYROX race itself is a series of 8x 1km runs spread between 8x functional fitness stations, alternating each until finished. The age of our participants will range from late teens to early 80s, such is the effect this disease has had on so many in our community.
How will funds be raised during the event?
Money will be raised through a number of methods. Firstly, each team will pay a fee to enter as a minimum donation. Donations are also being collected as once-off payments. Lastly, teams can raise additional funds by being sponsored for each round they are able to complete.
What do you hope to achieve through this event?
We feel that helping to make a difference by raising money for Shake It Up is a powerful way to contribute to a cause that truly matters. We aim to encourage people through our efforts, to raise funds for a cause that resonates deeply with many of them and step out of their comfort zone to show their support. We hope this personal connection will help inspire both their efforts and those of others. Our fundraising efforts are not just about large donations but also about fostering a community of support – every contribution, no matter the size, adds up.
Show your support for Heath and all the participants here, or find out more about hosting your own DIY fundraiser or challenge for Shake It Up.