Time is running out for a specialized gym in Victoria that provides vital resources to more than 200 members with physical, neurological and cognitive challenges.
MOVE Adapted Fitness & Rehabilitation Society of B.C., faces “permanent closure” at the end of July if it cannot raise enough funds to keep its doors open.
The non-profit society has said that “unforeseen financial hardships” and the loss of its charitable status has left the group in “extreme debt” to the Canada Revenue Agency and its landlord, the gym's GoFundMe page states.
The statement continues, adding the board of directors have blamed the “negligence of a past board member” for the loss of its charitable status, which makes them ineligible for grant funding, one its primary sources of income.
The online fundraiser has collected nearly $12,000 of a $50,000 target as of 5 p.m. Tuesday (July 16) to help the gym continue its services in a “new capacity”.
“Without immediate financial support, we are at risk of leaving MOVE members without the essential services they rely on for their physical and emotional well-being,” said the board of directors on the GoFundMe page. “Your support is crucial now more than ever.”
First opened in 2013, the specialized adapted fitness centre offers accessible and therapeutic exercise to adults and children living with physical disabilities.
"MOVE has been life-saving, at the very least, life changing," a gym member commented on the page. "It gives me a place to work on physical achievements. MOVE has provided me with purpose and also with a place for socializing and feeling a sense of belonging."
The gym has highlighted that for many of its clients, traditional gyms are not an option because of their unique needs.
“The tailored programs and adaptive equipment provide a crucial service that enables them to stay active, improve their mobility and boost their mental health," continues the post. “The loss of a gym like MOVE, and the services it provides, would mean the loss of a safe space where they can work towards their fitness goals without fear of judgment or injury."
To support the gym’s fundraiser, visit: www.gofundme.com/f/save-move-gym.
