Moira-based JMS Fitness launches community open day to raise funds for life-saving defibrillator.

JMS Fitness is opening the doors of its New Fields Road gym on Sunday 20 September 2026 for a community fundraising day, with a 170,000-metre cycle challenge, four-hour kettlebell relay, free taster classes, raffle, coffee and cake.

The aim is simple: to raise enough money to buy and install a defibrillator at the gym.

At the centre of the day, JMS Fitness members will collectively cycle 170,000 metres, representing the roughly 170,000 people who die from heart and circulatory diseases in the UK each year, according to the British Heart Foundation.

Visitors can also take part in the kettlebell relay, try one of three 30-minute taster classes, enter the raffle or simply enjoy coffee and cake while supporting the fundraiser. Every penny raised will go towards the defibrillator fund.

Why 170,000?

Heart and circulatory diseases cause roughly 170,000 deaths in the UK every year, while more than 40,000 people experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. A defibrillator can be critical in the first few minutes of a cardiac arrest, before emergency services arrive.

JMS Fitness owner Jacob Sturgess said: '170,000 sounds like an abstract number until you're sat on a bike watching the metres tick up and realise how long it takes to count that high. That's the point of doing it this way.

'Every one of those metres is somebody's dad, somebody's daughter.'

He added: 'You hope you never have to use a defibrillator. That's rather the point of having one.

'But a gym is a room full of people pushing themselves, and if the worst ever happened here, I don't want to be standing around waiting for an ambulance knowing there was something we could have done about it.'

What's happening on the day:

• 170,000-metre cycle challenge - Members will take turns throughout the day to reach the 170,000-metre target. Anyone can contribute metres, whether they're a member or not.
• Four-hour kettlebell relay - Two kettlebells will keep moving for four hours, with members swapping in and out throughout the challenge.
• Taster classes - No experience or booking required. Pay what you feel, with all proceeds going to the defibrillator fund.

And for those who would rather support from the sidelines, there will be coffee, cake and a raffle.

JMS Fitness is located at New Fields Road, Moira.

Website: jms-fitness-charity.vercel.app

Instagram: @jms.fitness

Can't attend? Donations can be made through the campaign website. Campaign T-shirts are also available to order. Website https://jms-fitness-charity.vercel.app