When the EF-5 tornado hit Moore, Okla. in May 2013, few could have predicted the destruction left in its wake. The tornado left behind destroyed homes and death throughout Moore.
Today, the town is slowly getting back on its feet — among them a local Anytime Fitness franchise, which indirectly experienced the tornado’s mile-wide path of destruction.
The Anytime Fitness Moore location reopened to the public on June 14, 2013. According to Reid Bradley, the location’s franchisee, the facility’s reconstruction was delayed at first due to the overwhelming damage in the community. “But, once we found a company that was free, it took them seven days to repair everything,” said Bradley.
As of June 14, everything at the Anytime Fitness Moore location had been fixed. “The building had to be completely refaced,” Bradley explained. “The carpet was saved, but we had a lot of water come through the roof due to wind damage.” Altogether, the building suffered over $100,000 in damages.
According to Bradley, Anytime Fitness Moore’s members are “doing great.” The community also received support from other Anytime Fitness franchisees located across the country, sponsoring members and families from Moore’s gym. “As we called all 1,400 members, we took note of the toughest situations — the people who lost everything — and connected them with franchisees who wanted to help,” Bradley said. “Gift cards and money donations topped $5,000.”
Anytime Fitness Moore also hosted a supply drive, which Bradley called a “huge success.” Over 100 people stopped by. “The only tough part was that most people who needed things did not have a place to put them,” Bradley explained.
Bradley and Anytime Fitness Moore bought sandwiches for everyone in attendance. Two truckloads of supplies were also donated by Anytime Fitness’ corporate office. “A true demonstration that Anytime Fitness corporate cares,” said Bradley.
According to Bradley, members were thankful for Anytime Fitness Moore’s relief efforts. “Just being able to be together and talk through what happened was nice,” he said. “Once the water was back on, we offered showers to everyone, including non-members.”
All down payments during the month of July were donated to tornado relief. Anytime Fitness Moore employees also donated over 100 hours of free personal training “to help out our members and to get them back on track with their fitness goals,” Bradley said.
By Sam Rogers
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Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.
