Fitness firm digs deep for Sally Army (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Fitness franchise after food, not cash

12:05pm Tuesday 5th March 2013 in Local By Helen Morton

A BASINGSTOKE fitness franchise is this month asking new members for food instead of cash as part of an annual charity campaign.

Throughout March, Curves Basingstoke, based in Brighton Hill, will be collecting non-perishable food to be donated to The Salvation Army.

The franchise will waive its service fee for new members throughout the whole of March in return for a bag of non-perishable food and existing members will also be encouraged to donate food to the charity.

Louise Newbold, manager of Curves Basing-stoke, said that the food collection was something which all Curves centres, nationally and internationally, get involved with.

She said: “Collecting non-perishable food during the food drive is something which unites the Curves community globally.

“We’re delighted to champion The Salva-tion Army and their goals of supporting and strengthening people in the local community.”

Curves Basingstoke has been collecting and donating to charity during the Annual Curves Food Drive for the past seven years and has so far collected in excess of 2,000kg of items.

Ms Newbold said: “The food drive is a vital part of our community programme that fits perfectly with the Curves philosophy of promoting positive health and creating a community for ‘real women’.

“We look forward to many years of giving back to the community through deserving charities such as The Salvation Army.”