Wokingham

Curves Fitness Centre Wokingham is usually just for women – but for two hours one Saturday afternoon last summer, body conscious men (including the chairman of Wokingham District Council) worked up a sweat at the centre to raise cash for local charity Sebastian’s Action Trust. And now the £165 they raised has been matched by the Gary and Diane Heavin Community Fund at Curves International in America.

Curves invited men to visit the fitness centre, based at the Ritz Plaza in Denton Road, Wokingham, where they worked around the circuit twice for a £5 donation to Sebastian’s Action Trust. Many gentlemen sported bras so that they would blend in better at the ladies-only centre. Even former Wokingham District Council chairman Cllr Iain Brown wore a bra at the event, which was his last charity appearance following his year in office. Sebastian’s Action Trust was his nominated civic charity during his chairmanship.

At a special ceremony on Wednesday December 13, a cheque for $330, the matching sum put forward by the Gary and Diane Heavin Community Fund, was presented to Cllr Brown and his wife Carole so that it could be passed on to the charity.

Sebastian’s Action Trust is a registered charity committed to realising the last wish of Sebastian Gates who died aged nine after a two and a half year battle with cancer. Sebastian’s wish was to raise funds to provide a holiday home for families of cancer sufferers, so that they could spend precious time together away from the hospital and the punishing regimes that govern the lives of cancer patients.

“The circuit event was a fun afternoon for everybody,” said Wokingham Cllr Brown. “During my year as chairman, people came up with all kinds of extraordinary fundraising ideas for Sebastian’s Action Trust. But this was certainly among the most unusual! I would like to thank all those who volunteered their time and energy to make it such a success.”

Wokingham District Council