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Motosumo Cycle for Change

Motosumo’s “Cycle for Change” Initiative: Join the Movement to Plant Trees and Fight Climate Change Copenhagen, Denmark

Motosumo’s “Cycle for Change” initiative is a philanthropic project that aims to mitigate climate change by planting trees. Through the #TrainForTrees campaign, Motosumo has invited all its users, new and old, to join the movement and work out together for a purpose. The objective of this project is to raise awareness about the importance of tree-planting and encourage Motosumo users to take action. The intended result is to plant a maximum of 1,000 trees and make a real impact on climate change.


Brandon Rayburn is standing and holding a wheelchair above his head

Project Walk – The Claremont Club Claremont, Los Angeles

The story of how a near-fatal traffic accident is transforming a health club into a world-class facility for people living with a spinal chord injury. It is written by Ray Algar, founder of Gymtopia.

Mike Alpert’s early career was as a Californian stockbroker with Shearson Lehman Brothers, but it was a move to Oregon that profoundly changed his life. He had been drawn to Oregon for the winter skiing, but soon after arriving decided with a close friend to create The Athletic Club of Bend, a new multi-use athletic, aquatic, tennis and social club. One programme they started was for children with severe physically disabilities called ‘US Able Oregon’ and Mike began twice-weekly warm water pool sessions with a 5-year-old boy living with severe spina bifida. Alpert was always struck by the joy these sessions brought to a boy who would never walk again and asked himself why the club was not doing more programmes like this. “I became somewhat obsessed with wanting to do more of these kinds of things. That 5-year-old boy changed my life and gave me meaning” Alpert says.

Alpert eventually returned to California where since 1997 he has been the president and CEO of The Claremont Club. Founded in 1973, the health club, fitness and wellness centre nestles in seven and a half hectares (19 acres) in the city of Claremont, around 52 kilometres east of downtown Los Angeles where it serves more than 10,000 members. The inclusive operating philosophy that Alpert embedded in his earlier Oregon club is evident here, which is why this year it was the recipient of IHRSA’s Outstanding Community Service Award. Each year, IHRSA selects one club making a difference in, and beyond, their community.


Group of 14 adolescent girls and boys with two female instructors taking part in the GoodLife4Kids School Programme – Canada

GoodLife Kids Foundation is inspiring a lifelong love of physical activity Multiple cities

GoodLife Kids Foundation’s vision is for every Canadian kid to have the opportunity to live a fit and healthy good life. The Grant Program, established in 2009, currently focuses on providing funding to programs offering ongoing physical activity opportunities for children with special needs. Following a successful pilot phase, the GoodLife4Kids School Program officially launched September 2015 and is operating in 71 schools. The stretch goal is to reach one school for each of GoodLife’s more than 200 club locations. The School Program aims to inspire a lifelong-love of physical fitness among grade four students (age 9-10). It is a partnership program with local schools where GoodLife4Kids Coaches help students learn early fitness skills. This program is offered at no cost to schools over the two-year partnership.


A group of men and women taking part in the Dancing Parkinson’s YYC programme taught by Decidedly Jazz Danceworks using a Dance Education model from the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada - Gymtopia.org

Dancing Parkinson’s YYC programme Calgary, Canada

Launched in 2013 as a pilot project, Dancing Parkinson’s YYC provides dance classes to people with Parkinson disease, their spouses, friends and care partners. It is based on the simple belief that ‘dancing is good for us’. With live musical accompaniment and a focus on rhythm and musicality, body awareness, muscle development, coordination and socializing, Dancing Parkinson’s YYC brings together the style of Decidedly Jazz Danceworks with a Dance Education model used at the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  The program is dedicated to enhancing people’s quality of life through the arts.