LOCAL NEWS: Eddie Howe to prove his fitness in gruelling workout

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AFC Bournemouth Manager Eddie Howe will join Julia’s House HIIT Squad for the ultimate fundraising workout.

Longer serving AFC Bournemouth fans will remember the work rate Eddie Howe put in when marshalling the Cherries defence back in the late 90’s, and later in 2004 when the fans stumped up funds to bring him back to Dean Court from Portsmouth F.C.

Now, Eddie has teamed up with Martin Edwards, CEO of the children’s hospice charity Julia’s House, to take part in a gruelling 2-hour High-Intensity Interval Training fundraiser. 

L-R The Julia’s House Hit Squad Chris Symons (BH Live), Martin Edwards (Julia’s House), Jamie Wollen (JWA Consulting) & Hugh Roper (Rockets & Rascals)

Who are the HIIT Squad?

Now known as the Julia’s House HIIT Squad, Martin and Eddie aim to raise £60,000 via JustGiving. In order to do so, they will push their bodies to the extreme in a 2-hour HIIT workout at the AFC Bournemouth gym on 18 March. 

The ‘2 hours for 2 nurses’ workout will enable the Dorset and WIltshire children’s hospice charity to raise money that will go towards funding two nurses for a year, and make a life-changing difference to the local families it supports. 

Eddie and Martin will be joined by business leaders from across Dorset and Wiltshire, with fitness instructors from BH Live putting them through their paces. Those taking on the ultimate HIIT challenge include Chris Symons from BH Live, Jason Gault of TeamJobs, Jamie Wollen of JWA Consulting, Hugh Roper of Rockets&Rascals, Tim Brown of Superior Seals and Pip Woods and Peter Gordon of Rockley Watersports.

In addition to this, BH Live will be holding their own 2 hour HIIT Squad challenge at Bournemouth Littledown Centre from 6-8pm on Wednesday 18 March. Anyone aged 14 and above can sign up to the event, start training and get sponsored through a dedicated JustGiviving page linked to the HIIT Squad.

There will also be more fundraising from BH Live staff with all-day cycle challenges taking place at BH Live leisure centres across Bournemouth and Poole.

Eddie Howe and Martin Edwards in training for the HIIT Squad Challenge

Eddie Howe, a patron of Julia’s House, said: “When Martin asked me to take on the marathon HIIT challenge I didn’t hesitate, as I know what a difference two nurses will make to the children and families Julia’s House looks after.

“It will be two of my toughest hours ever in the gym but I’ll be focusing on how much money we’re raising to support all the families at Julia’s House now and in the future.”

When Dan and Maiju discovered their daughter had suffered brain damage, having a Julia’s House nurse on their side meant the world to them: “Nurse Alex came to see us while Elisa was in intensive care. Elisa had been in hospital for 101 days and we had hardly left her side,” Dan explained.

He continued: “Alex was like a Fairy Godmother- she realised we needed support and organised care at the hospital so we could have a break. The Julia’s House team are not like nurses to us, they are like an extended part of the family.”

Martin Edwards added: “The families that Julia’s House supports face a lot of challenges in their lives- not to mention the worry, exhaustion and heartache. Our challenge is about being there for those families.

“So whether you are sponsoring me and Eddie or fellow HIIT Squad members, donating to BH Live staff in their cycling challenge or taking part in the evening HIIT Squad challenge at Littledown, your support will go towards funding nurses who are an absolute lifeline to local families.”

L-R Chris Symons (BH Live), Martin Edwards (Julia’s House, Jamie Wollen (JWA Consulting) & Hugh Roper (Rockets & Rascals)

Julia’s House

Julia’s House is a local charity dedicated to supporting the families of children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions in Dorset and Wiltshire, many of which require round the clock care, which has a huge impact on family life.

The charity is there for the whole family, not just the sick child, providing emotional support and social opportunities for parents, grandparents and siblings. As a result, they help to break the cycle of anxiety and isolation that can impact family life.

Currently, Julia’s House relies on public donations, fundraising and legacies for 95 per cent of the money needed to run its vital service. The charity supports 178 families across Dorset and Wiltshire- this number is rising as medical and scientific advances mean more children are being born and living longer with life-limiting conditions.

 

To support Martin, Eddie and the HIIT Squad, visit their JustGiving page here, or visit www.bhliveactive.org/julias-house-hiit-squad to find out how to book onto the HIIT Squad workout at Littledown on 18 March.

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