Instead of holding the grand opening of a new branch of F45 Training at 1464 Riverdale St. in West Springfield on Saturday, which has been postponed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, owners and Bernardston natives Jessye and Dan Deane hosted an online “Heroes Hollywood” workout to celebrate health care workers, raising $1,015 for Baystate Health’s Greatest Needs Fund.
More than 100 people attended Saturday’s virtual workout led by F45’s personal trainers. According to an F45 Training press release, the Deanes announced earlier in the week that they would donate in honor of every F45 member who signed up for the workout, and expanded the fitness fundraiser to include non-members for only $5.
The fundraiser has been a labor of love for the Deanes, who introduced Massachusetts to the Australian franchise in 2018 with their first location, F45 Training Hampshire Meadows in Hadley. Since then, they have donated more than $60,000 in cash and services to 28 local nonprofits.
“Our slogan is ‘Team Training, Life Changing,’ and that’s always been the spirit of our business,” Jessye Deane said. “We are committed to strengthening our members and local nonprofits. Coronavirus hasn’t changed that.”
Part of their interest in holding Saturday’s fundraiser, the release states, is that the Deanes understand the challenges the essential workforce is facing. In addition to owning and operating the two F45 Training studios and now homeschooling their three children under age 5, the Franklin County residents are both classified as essential workers for their full-time careers. Dan Deane works at a local hydroelectric plant, and Jessye Deane is the director of communications and development with Community Action Pioneer Valley.
“Like so many other struggling small business owners, we’re disappointed and we’re scared, but we’re trying to take a situation that’s out of our control and create an opportunity to help our health care workers when they need it most,” the Deanes state in the release.
F45 Training has been offering alternative in-home training sessions since March, and Dan Deane said the fitness studio has been overwhelmed by the response.
“We wish we could see our members in the studio, but these interactive sessions still allow us to provide the accountability and community that comes with group training and the individualized attention and encouragement of two personal trainers,” he said. “This Saturday’s grand opening looked a little different than we had envisioned, but we were still able to virtually celebrate with an incredible group of members who have become like family to us.”