Celebrating the cultural diversity of refugees at YMCA Club

A seven hour exercise challenge to create awareness around refugees and asylum seekers
9 June 2017

Refugee Week is one of the UK’s largest festivals, celebrating the vast diversity of culture that refugees bring, and it’s coming up in the next few weeks from 19th-25th of June. In honour of this, on 17th June, YMCA Club will be hosting a seven hour exercise challenge, open to both members and non-members. The challenge is free of charge (however all donations are welcome), and is to encourage the community to be fearless and try something new, as well as highlight why so many people within the UK and worldwide seek sanctuary in a country different from their own.

Improving perceptions

This special week was created in 1998 as a response to the violence and negative misconceptions surrounding both refugees and asylum seekers. It brought a better understanding to WHY these people flee their home countries, and dispelled the damaging views of society. Through this weeklong festival, the talents and unique skills of refugees are showcased, revealing the rich value that they can bring to a country and the importance of their story being listened and heard.

Showcasing the beauty of diversity

The event will take part in our Soho-based gym and will feature taster sessions from every one of the classes on the timetable, from the animalistic Primal Patterns, to classic Ballet Barre or Zumba. It gives non-members the chance to test out one of the very unique classes on the timetable, as well as contributing to a notable cause and being welcomed into a gym that is the embodiment of diversity, and the happy union of between different communities and highlights the beauty our differences can bring.

If you want to tackle the 24/7 challenge and contribute to a terrific cause email the Club’s health and fitness programme manager Terri Snelling (terri.snelling@ymca.co.uk).