SportBU manager swapping lbs for £s for Comic Relief

Posted on Thursday, February 28 2013

A manager at Bournemouth University’s on-campus gym will raise money for Comic Relief by completing a gruelling number of fitness classes.

Charlton Clarke, who is Duty Manager (Intramural and External Facilities) at SportBU, will complete 34 fitness classes over seven days – a total of 27.75 hours of exercise.

Charlton, who also teaches fitness classes at the Talbot Campus gym, hopes to raise at least £500 for his Lbs for £s Challenge through an online donation site and collection buckets.

He will be taking part in up to seven classes a day – including spinning, pilates and Legs, Bums and Tums – from Monday 4th March until Sunday 10th March.

Charlton, 25, said: “I have always wanted to do something for Red Nose Day – I see all the celebrities doing the massive challenges and get a bit jealous.

“I am here on a daily basis, so I thought it would be interesting just to see how many classes I could do in a week. Then I thought I may as well combine it with raising money.”

The challenge will see Charlton complete some of the half hour and hour long classes consecutively – doing them throughout the day while working normal hours in between.

Charlton, of Westbourne, will also be taking part in classes that he normally teaches and will attempt his first ever Zumba class.

He said: “The Zumba class will be interesting. I like doing classes which are pretty stationary, as anything that involves lots of movement or dancing, I’m usually rubbish.

“I’m looking forward to taking part in the Boxercise class – I have taught that for about three years and I have always been on the other side, shouting at people.

“My colleague is going to run the class for me and she says she’s quite looking forward to putting me through my paces.”

He added: “The people who come to my classes regularly, are going to see me and want me to push myself.

“Thursday is quite a tough day – if I’m not tried and struggling by that point anyway, I will be by the end of it.

“I’m just throwing myself into it and hoping for the best.”

You can sponsor Charlton here