Kirkcaldy fitness manager 's £1000 Purple Day fundraiser for Epilepsy Scotland
and live on Freeview channel 276
Ben Smith, who lives in Kirkcaldy but works at Gym 64 in Glenrothes, did a Body Combat workout via Zoom to coincide with Purple Day on March 26 when people in countries around the world are invited to wear purple and host events in support of epilepsy awareness.
The 29-year-old invited class regulars, members, friends and family to take part in the two-hour session from 10am to noon, to wear purple and give a minimum donation of £5 to Epilepsy Scotland.
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Hide AdBen, who has been running online classes throughout the second lockdown, had hoped to raise £500 for the charity, but he has managed to double his target by collecting an incredible £1000.
As well as the online fundraiser, he also set up a purple month challenge on his Facebook page for anyone who wanted to take part – inviting people to do a 1-5k run each day, walk 10000-15000 steps daily or take part in free online high intensity classes.
He thanked everyone who has supported him with his fitness fundraisers: “I want to thank everyone who joined me for the purple day challenge of two hours of Body Combat, everyone who took part in the purple month challenge, all who donated and everyone who kept me going throughout lockdown,” he said.
"I am so proud to have achieved what I have and raised £1000 for Epilepsy Scotland.”
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Hide AdHe added: “This rounds up my online classes and what a great way to finish. It has definitely kept me going too, seeing everyone turn up over the month.”
Ben was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2014. Since then he has been raising money for the charity and to date, he has collected an incredible £4023.
He has taken part in various challenges to raise awareness of the condition including the Loch Leven Half Marathon, the Stirling and Edinburgh Marathons and local parkruns as well as Tough Mudder 13.1 miles, the Glenrothes 10k and the Black Rock 5 Race in Kinghorn.