Participants and instructors in Fitness Funatics' final FUNattack. This event raised $15,710 for the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation, bringing the six year total to $65,000.

Hub Staff

After five hours of arduous exercise, participants in Fitness Funatics' annual FUNattack in Port Elgin pushed through the pain barrier on Saturday, April 22 to raise $15,710 for the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation (SMHF). This year's FUNattack, the final event of its kind, brings the total raised for the hospital over the last six years to $65,000.

Fitness Funatics owner Shelley Greig said that the grueling event included five different activities, including spinning, kickboxing, muscle pump, TRX and boot camp. “We try to combine a little bit of muscle and then a little bit of cardio and then a little bit of muscle,” said Greig.

She added that although they had been raising money for the Hospital Foundation for the last six years, the event had actually been going on longer, explaining that it originally started as a fundraiser for a gym member whose son was seriously ill. “They needed an elevator in the house, so we fundraised. It was the first time we ever did it and we got $10,000.” The following year it was decided to do something similar for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, until finally they decided to donate each year to the SMHF.

Greig said the event was a lot of fun but this would be the final year as it was hard on the participants to ask for money. “It's tough to ask for money every year from the same family members and we just thought we needed a bit of a break,” she explained. “They say never say never though, so you never know.”

Celebrating her 70th birthday in June this year, Southampton resident Ann Thain was the oldest participant. “I loved it,” she said after completing the five hour workout.

Thain, a regular member of Fitness Funatics said that she usually exercises at the gym every day. “I do a lot of classes. I do spin, I do muscle...I get my money's worth,” she laughed, adding that her husband usually drives her to the facility but if the weather is fine she then walks back to Southampton after her workout.

SMHF Executive Director and a FUNattack participant, Sally Kidson said that everyone had been working really hard at their sponsorships this year to try and beat past year's records. “It's just so incredible that a small number of people can raise so much money,” she said, explaining that the funds would go towards equipment for the hospital's new ER, including new wall monitors and blood pressure machines.

Prizes were awarded after the event with Port Elgin's Michelle Policicchio being awarded this year's top pledger, raising $2,090 and winning a barbecue donated from Port Elgin Home Hardware. Joni McNeice came in a close second with $2,035 in pledges, winning a recliner from Little's Furniture with third and fourth places going to Christy Kelly and Sandra Boire, with pledges of $1,080 and $1,000 respectively.

Fitness Funatics owner Shelley Greig (centre) with FUNattack participants, SMHF Executive Director Sally Kidson (left) and SMHF board member Shannon Van Valkenburg.

Ann Thain (left), the event’s oldest participant and second place pledger Joni McNeice after completeing the five hour long FUNattack.

Beckie Smith (left) and Keri Martindale participated in one of the final boot camp activities.

Erin Szumsky of Port Elgin, left, and Sheila Liddle of Southampton team up for some boot camp exercises.

An hour of muscle work had participants focused.

FUNattack participants, left to right, Joni McNeice, Lanny Bingham, Shirley Immonen and Andrea Gareau take a quick break during their five hour fitness challenge.

Kickboxing was one of the first activities in this year's FUNattack.

Michelle Policicchio received a barbecue from Port Elgin Home Hardware's Jeff Gauthier for being this year’s top pledger.