Kickboxing champion on a team mission through lockdown

A Just Giving fundraiser and charity ‘fun run’ event has been launched for Sunday July 5, to raise money for the NHS Charities Together, with the team goal of raising at least £5000.

There are approximately 1,400 face to face running clubs, with more than 600 organised ‘Park Runs’ within the UK and over 7,000 health clubs and gyms, all of which are currently closed. parkrun have confirmed they will not be opening at least until the end of June.

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It has been identified, by Sport England, that almost 2/3’s (62%) of the population believe “exercise to be more important than ever during the current coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis”, for physical and mental health, as over 2/3’s (65%) have said “exercise is helping them with their mental health during the outbreak”. This shows a need to provide something to help get the nation active and keep them fit and healthy.

Fleischer has created 5K FIT Together to motivate and support individuals to get more active, in the absence of the gym communities and face to face runs. By creating connections online, through a closed group; to offer support and advice through struggles, to share improvements, goals and successes, Fleischer is already witnessing members achieving great results!

It’s not too late to get involved with this growing group, sign up on the website: www.5kfittogether.com

Alongside encouraging the virtual training together, Jess has created the team fundraiser and charity ‘Fun Run’, to encourage participants to remain consistent with their activity, by providing an extra form of motivation, knowing that they are not just doing it for their own health goals but to support a fantastic cause too.

Fleischer struggled at the beginning of lock down, despite having previously been highly active and dedicated to her exercise routines. She found herself missing the gym environment and ended up feeling ‘stuck inside and on her own at home’. So, she has created something to help both herself and others overcome this.

Fleischer describes this is an ideal opportunity to ‘get into running’, or perfect to provide motivation for those who already run but ‘need something to work towards’. Fleischer admits that she has only ever ran before to achieve kickboxing goals; she had to run 5k for her black belt grading and she had to run 5k three times per week throughout training for her fights, but is now enjoying her running more than ever, with her team.

When asked to describe what prompted her to start 5K FIT Together Fleischer said: “I knew I needed to keep my fitness levels up, as this is important so I can continue my coaching and kickboxing, but I have never before enjoyed running. I decided that by setting up a group, I can inspire others to get involved, which will motivate me to keep going with my own training too, even when I don’t feel like it!”