Body Fit Training on Eastern Avenue hosts Brain Cancer Awareness Day fundraiser on Oct. 24

By JULIA SAWICKI

Body Fit Training (BFT) in East Toronto is marking Brain Cancer Awareness Day with a cardio and charity challenge, Cals for a Cure, on Saturday, Oct. 24.

From 7:30a.m. to 11:45 a.m., coaches and volunteer members at BFT will take turns completing calories on row and SkiErg machines. Each dollar donated adds a calorie to the target, with all money raised going towards the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.

The studio will also be selling caps and toques from HatsforHope, with proceeds going towards the foundation as well.

For lifelong Beacher and BFT studio owner, Veronika Georgeff, this fundraiser holds a special significance. For most of her adult life, Georgeff has lived with a brain tumor. Three years ago, at age 28, she underwent brain surgery at Sunnybrook hospital and received a cancer diagnosis.

But that wasn’t the end of her story. Together, she and Dan Manicom opened their BFT location, as a way to honour a shared love of fitness, and bring people together.

“Dan and I opened BFT Eastern because moving and being part of a community is what kept me strong throughout that experience and a very challenging time for myself,” she explained.

Georgeff said she always knew she wanted to do something to give back with her gym, bringing together strength and passion towards a shared goal. The Brain Cancer Foundation had been there throughout her health journey, inspiring her to spread awareness, not just for herself, but for anyone that’s even been affected by the disease.

“There’s something really powerful about when people come together to move, and the fact that we could use this space and collective for something larger, was something that I always kind of envisioned,” added Georgeff.

 “The shape of the event is something that’s come to us over the last few weeks. But I always knew that within this community space we wanted to use the opportunity to give back.”

Gerogeff said the the community response to the upcoming fundraiser has been overwhelming. The studio originally set out a goal of $5,000 at the beginning of October. She said that they are now at 120 per-cent of the campaign goal.

“The warmth with which it has been received, has been something that’s incredibly special for our community, and it’s something that’s resonated with me throughout my journey as well,” she said. “I believe there’s so much power and vulnerability in sharing those experiences. So the fact that it’s been received that way within the community of BFT Eastern has been incredibly positive.”

Growing up in the Beach, Georgeff has held a very special place for the community in her heart, and how it’s impacted her relationship with fitness, even learning and teaching tennis at Kew Gardens when she was younger. She believes that there’s something powerful about the community, and she said that residents’ strength and support has been crucial to the fundraiser’s success. 

“My roots in this community itself are incredibly deep, and I have felt that sense of community since I was a young girl, first engaging with movement. I think the impact of this fundraising event has been amplified by that,” explained Georgeff.

“Community strength is possible anywhere,” she added. “But this event has definitely been strengthened because of the support of the East-End community, and the people within this neighbourhood. “

Body Fit Training Eastern is located on 936 Eastern Ave. To make a pledge towards Saturday’s fundraiser, please visit https://btfc.akaraisin.com/ui/braintumourfdn/p/BFTEastern 

To visit the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, please visit https://www.braintumour.ca/

To learn more about BFT Eastern, please visit https://www.bodyfittraining.com/location/eastern