TWL, Cambridgeshire 2024
Together We Lift In Aid Of CPSL Mind, Cambridgeshire 2024
As I write this blog we are a week on from the incredible event that we hosted at the Academy Leisure Sports Hall in Sawtry.
Before we go any further with this blog, I would like to thank each and every person involved in making this event happen, and thank everyone who has supported along the way. From athletes, to coaches, to event crew, those who donated, those who entered the raffle and those who shared our posts. We honestly couldn’t have done any of this without you.
Since our mental health event in 2023, we have travelled to Peterhead to co-promote an event with Nicola Buchan of NB Fitness in order to raise money for Mental Health Aberdeen in March 2024 and we hosted an event in Barnsley at the Priory Centre to raise money for Mental Health Matters.
The event, what did the day look like?
Together We Lift events, are all about bringing the strength community together. Whether you are from an Olympic Lifting background, Powerlifting background, Strongman or Strongwomen background we want to bring people together, build a community that truly supports and helps one another in their fitness goals. Not only do we attempt to engage the strength community but provide sign posts to related business and charities to help leave a lasting impact of those in attendance.
We had in attendance:
* CPSL Mind, our local mental health charity.
* Cottage Cookies and Cakes by Elaine providing sweet treats for our lifters and spectators.
* Coffee Ark, who are a Community Interest Company (CiC) based in Sawtry ran by volunteers to provide a coffee chat space to remote locations.
* Imperium Clothing, Premium Fitness brand.
And of course we had our Buds Fitness stand to showcase our products and services. The stand was manned by my mum, my nan, my wife and ten year old son so it truly was a family effort.
Special mention must go to the Masked Monster who gave an incredible speech at the first break, and was at the event all day speaking with people from all walks of life, and different backgrounds. Truly was powerful to witness.
Thankyou to Banana Moon once again for coming through with exceptional quality event t shirt printing! Despite the huge variation in t shirt sizes, and the two different colour, absolutely nothing was too much trouble.
Finally, thank you to Hi2o for being our official event hydration partner. We have an ongoing 10% discount code with Hi2o, and any money raised through this partnership on our part will be paid in to our CPSL Mind pot.
https://www.hi2owater.co.uk/
Discount Code: together10
What event stations were there, and who coached?
On the day we have four core event stations.
Sled Drag, into push hosted by International Strength Athlete Desi Gillespie.
Deadlift Coached by Alan O’Connor, and Lizzy of Dedicated Strength Gym in Peterborough.
Overhead press coached by Nova Performance.
Sandbags coached by the King and Queen of Sandbags Keoghan and Clara of Strength Register.
The ALFitness Team Deadlift Bar
The Team Deadlift is the perfect way to end a mental health event as the message that carries over is so incredibly powerful.
The ALFitness Team Deadlift bar highlights that Together We Are Stronger, a reminded that when thing’s feel heavy it’s time to share the load, this works both physically and mentally. Earlier in the day we had athletes pull 80kg, 100kg, all the way through to 250kg but when we got to the Team Deadlift the opening weight was 97.5kg meaning that some were instantly pulling more together than they had alone!
This event station is hosted on it’s own at the end of the day to allow people from different groups to partner with one another, and also encourage the coaches to get involved. The event station is run on a rising bar and athletes can drop in and out as they please and nobody has to go until failure if that isn’t right for them.
Together We Lift In Aid of CPSL Mind Summary
The events are totally none for profit and in order for complete transparency I am happy to declare the below totals from the event:
JustGiving donations £1168.67, including GiftAid
* As of 17.07.2024
Event Profits: £288.97
Raffle (Paypal) £110
Raffle (Cash) £115
Raffle (Card) £105
Cash donations cash £100
Total Raised = £1887.64
All funds raised have been paid into our JustGiving page:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/together-we-lift-cambs
The money raised is one thing but the legacy lives beyond the event through the friendships that were made, the conversation that were being had and the community that we are building.
The event t-shirts, photos and even the hoodies all inspire conversations and something that we are keen to continue to promote is that by wearing your t shirt, your hoodies or by sharing the photos you could be providing THAT SIGN to someone in need. You may not know them, you may never know that you were that sign but you could be the reason that someone speaks out today.
Blog written by Co-Owner Of Buds Fitness and Founder Of Together We Lift Events, Liam Baker on 20th July 2024