member news
2020 Issue 4 | GearedUp
6
Taymax Group Helps Firefighters Pay Tribute to 9 / 11 First Responders
This year was the 19th anniversary of the 9 / 11 terror attacks on the World Trade Centers , and the Taymax Group helped two firefighters undertake a stair climb to remember the fallen at their Napanee , Ontario location . Jared Fletcher , director of marketing , explained that many Planet Fitness ® locations have firefighters come in to do stair climbs on 9 / 11 to pay tribute to those who lost their lives that tragic day .
The way the event got its start wasn ’ t complicated . “ Two members who are local firefighters asked if they could do the climbing in all of their gear and our staff happily obliged ,” Fletcher said .
The two firefighters , one from the Greater Napanee Emergency Services ( GNES ) Fire Department and one with the Stone Mills Fire Department , came to the Napanee Planet Fitness with the goal of climbing 220 floors , which represents the 110 floors going up and 110 floors going down inside the World Trade Center , according to an article from The Napanee Beaver . The same article goes on to mention that there were 343 New York City Fire Department firefighters who lost their lives that day as they worked to
Planet Fitness ® has always been committed to giving back to the community . Supporting the community comes in many different forms , and it is always something special to see a PF ® club reach out and make a difference in the lives of people around them . This is something that United PF has recently done by making a special donation to a nonprofit in their area .
In early November 2020 , the group ’ s Weatherford location gave a treadmill and an elliptical to Emily ’ s Place , which is a nonprofit in Plano , Texas that provides long-term housing to help survivors of domestic violence . The organization ’ s goal is to help people permanently escape abuse .
“ The organization works with women that have passed their 30 days at a shelter and helps them get back on
Planet Fitness Napanee also donated to the firefighters ’ Fire Fit Teams .
rescue people from the towers . Instead of simply climbing the 220 floors , in and of itself no small feat , the two firefighters wanted to do the climb in full gear .
Along with allowing the firefighters to use the club ’ s equipment , the Taymax Group was pleased to donate $ 500 to the GNES and Stone Mills ’ Fire Fit teams . “ Government services are an essential part of our communities and we strive to support them as much as we can ,” Fletcher said . “ Many of our members are firefighters or have family and friends who are fire fighters . Supporting them helps Planet Fitness get engrained into
their feet and gain their independence ,” said Erin Tuller , senior marketing coordinator for UPF . She explained that Emily ’ s Place helps these women find jobs , put their credit in order and get support through therapy , among other services . They can stay in the program for up to two years .
Since UPF has locations in the area , PFHQ reached out to see if they could help support this cause . Of course , transporting exercise equipment is oftentimes easier said than done , but UPF made the process as seamless as possible for Emily ’ s Place by sending two of their own technicians to deliver the machines to the nonprofit .
Exercise and fitness come with many benefits , and the treadmill and elliptical will hopefully bring a lot of good to the women at Emily ’ s Place . G
Two firefighters visited the PF ® location in Napanee , Ontario to do a stair climb in tribute to first responders who lost their lives on 9 / 11 .
local communities and gives our members a sense of pride to be part of Planet Fitness .”
Fletcher hopes to continue this event in future years to remember 9 / 11 . He explained that the Taymax Group participates in other events to support firefighters and hopes to continue to find opportunities like this to support the community throughout the year . G
UPF Donates Fitness Equipment to Local Nonprofit
UPF donated a treadmill and an elliptical to Emily ’ s Place , a local nonprofit .