Help save our dream gym!
Donation protected
My name is Kim Schneider and I am the very proud owner of Croton Fit Body Boot Camp, a small, community focused fitness studio in Croton on Hudson Ny.
A diagnosis of Hashimoto’s in my late 20’s - an autoimmune disease causing hypothyroidism and all of the fun things that come along with it, including weight gain, exhaustion, depression, Gi and skin issues - started a decade long search to heal my body through nutrition and exercise. I educated myself on how certain foods affect autoimmune conditions and the thyroid. Fitness became a huge part of my life as I searched for the right program to keep me engaged and get results. From big box gyms, to multiple personal trainers, to every single late night, infomercial workout at home program I saw - I tried them all. Slowly over the years, I made progress and was able to get my condition under control. I lost weight, started gaining muscle, my energy levels went up, and my numbers started leveling out. The more I learned about health and fitness, the more I wanted to keep learning!
Inspired by my own journey, and with a strong desire to help teach other people find their healthier selves, I decided to open my own fitness studio. I had a vision for creating a unique place where people of all ages and abilities would come within the community to reclaim their health and strength. It would be one with a strong support system, a focus on building relationships, and everyone working together to reach our goals. So along with my incredibly talented and supportive mother, my father - a lifelong contractor, and a whole lot of tools, we built my dream gym with our own hands. For 5 months, we put our hearts and souls and a lot of very long days to make it all happen! It was a joyful labor of love so the crazy hours, blood, sweat and tears were all well worth it.
In May of 2019 I opened the doors of my hand and heart crafted gym in our beautiful riverfront town. If you ask my “fitness family” members, they would tell you that I love what I have built and that I love each of them. Truly I felt my dream had come true!
I had no idea how much 2020 would change that dream in so many ways. Right after New Year’s, I was in a terrible head on collision that resulted in a severe concussion, torn meniscus, and extensive injuries to my back and foot. I knew the road to recovery would be a long one, but with the support of my Fit Family, I forged ahead and kept my spirits high. I put together an amazing team of coaches and delegated work while still giving all that I could to my dream and our members. The love and support I received from them was truly incredible and kept me going each day! We were making incredible growth and progress and then March hit us.
On March 16, we were told we would have to close down the gym, along with so many other “non essential” small businesses because of Covid 19. Refusing to give up on the dream or on the support we had been providing for our members, my team and I immediately put together an online program. The goal was to keep everyone going with their workouts, keep providing nutritional support, and be here to help everyone work towards better health and fitness, even during - and really, ESPECIALLY during - this public health crisis.
While our online program, and the ongoing support for our Fitness Family has been well loved by our members, 6 months of being forced to keep our doors closed has been very hard on our small studio. Day after day, and week after week, we watched our numbers drop as our members requested to freeze or cancel their memberships. Working out at home is difficult for a lot of people, (myself included) and that is a HUGE reason why I opened in the first place! We were also facing loss of jobs and reduction in finances, forcing people to decide between their health, and managing other household expenses.
Gyms in New York have finally been given the ok to reopen, and we are slowly doing so with the health and safety of our team, our members, and the entire community always the number one concern. We are following every guideline set before us with the utmost of care by the governor, Department of Health, the CDC, and World Health Organisation recommendations. We are holding outdoor as well as indoor workouts in very small approved numbers. We are upholding the strictest social distancing and cleaning/ sterilization protocols. But a stigma and fear has been set for many people to return to gyms, restaurants, and other places of business right now, bringing a lot of extra challenges as we work to build our fitness family and the business back up. I know in my heart that we will recover from this, but I also know that it will take some time - much more time than building from our opening last May.
My mission in life and with my studio, is to change as many lives as possible through health and fitness. As someone who is so used to helping other people, I am not one to ask for help for myself, but this is something I must do now. This year has been both very challenging and humbling for me. Right now, I stand to lose my dream, and everything that I have fought and worked so hard for. Our community stands to lose the place where everyone can come for guided workouts, support, and motivation with no judgement or pressure. I strongly believe that we must continue to have gyms for both physical and mental health, and we can do so while following the proper safety guidelines we have in place.
I know these are uncertain times, and any donation to this campaign - no matter how big or how small - will be so greatly valued and appreciated. I want to continue my mission to help as many people as I can but first, I have to be the one to ask for help. Right now, I need money to pay down the rent and other expenses that have accrued over the last 6 months, retain my team, and keep our doors open. With your help, I can continue moving forward into a better future. I can remain a part of this wonderful community, and keep bringing my best to help others with their fitness and overall health. I can keep shining a light into these dark times and stay positive while helping my members do the same.
If we can build up our funds, and work to get back on top in this amazing community, I make a promise to pay it forward. If you need donations for a school or other charitable auction, or have a small business in Croton and are in peril, or know someone who is struggling with weight, health and fitness issues - I promise to help as much as I can, as much as you are helping me now through this difficult time. I will always promise to work as hard as I can within this community to be a good coach, mentor, neighbor, tenant, and friend.
This dream has come true for me through hard work and dedication. Any money given onwards this campaign would be an investment into someone who will NEVER.. give up... NEVER give in.. and who will continuously always GIVE BACK! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my story, for caring and for anything you may give. If you could please share this campaign with others I would be so appreciative.
I am grateful beyond measure.
Sincerely,
Kim
A diagnosis of Hashimoto’s in my late 20’s - an autoimmune disease causing hypothyroidism and all of the fun things that come along with it, including weight gain, exhaustion, depression, Gi and skin issues - started a decade long search to heal my body through nutrition and exercise. I educated myself on how certain foods affect autoimmune conditions and the thyroid. Fitness became a huge part of my life as I searched for the right program to keep me engaged and get results. From big box gyms, to multiple personal trainers, to every single late night, infomercial workout at home program I saw - I tried them all. Slowly over the years, I made progress and was able to get my condition under control. I lost weight, started gaining muscle, my energy levels went up, and my numbers started leveling out. The more I learned about health and fitness, the more I wanted to keep learning!
Inspired by my own journey, and with a strong desire to help teach other people find their healthier selves, I decided to open my own fitness studio. I had a vision for creating a unique place where people of all ages and abilities would come within the community to reclaim their health and strength. It would be one with a strong support system, a focus on building relationships, and everyone working together to reach our goals. So along with my incredibly talented and supportive mother, my father - a lifelong contractor, and a whole lot of tools, we built my dream gym with our own hands. For 5 months, we put our hearts and souls and a lot of very long days to make it all happen! It was a joyful labor of love so the crazy hours, blood, sweat and tears were all well worth it.
In May of 2019 I opened the doors of my hand and heart crafted gym in our beautiful riverfront town. If you ask my “fitness family” members, they would tell you that I love what I have built and that I love each of them. Truly I felt my dream had come true!
I had no idea how much 2020 would change that dream in so many ways. Right after New Year’s, I was in a terrible head on collision that resulted in a severe concussion, torn meniscus, and extensive injuries to my back and foot. I knew the road to recovery would be a long one, but with the support of my Fit Family, I forged ahead and kept my spirits high. I put together an amazing team of coaches and delegated work while still giving all that I could to my dream and our members. The love and support I received from them was truly incredible and kept me going each day! We were making incredible growth and progress and then March hit us.
On March 16, we were told we would have to close down the gym, along with so many other “non essential” small businesses because of Covid 19. Refusing to give up on the dream or on the support we had been providing for our members, my team and I immediately put together an online program. The goal was to keep everyone going with their workouts, keep providing nutritional support, and be here to help everyone work towards better health and fitness, even during - and really, ESPECIALLY during - this public health crisis.
While our online program, and the ongoing support for our Fitness Family has been well loved by our members, 6 months of being forced to keep our doors closed has been very hard on our small studio. Day after day, and week after week, we watched our numbers drop as our members requested to freeze or cancel their memberships. Working out at home is difficult for a lot of people, (myself included) and that is a HUGE reason why I opened in the first place! We were also facing loss of jobs and reduction in finances, forcing people to decide between their health, and managing other household expenses.
Gyms in New York have finally been given the ok to reopen, and we are slowly doing so with the health and safety of our team, our members, and the entire community always the number one concern. We are following every guideline set before us with the utmost of care by the governor, Department of Health, the CDC, and World Health Organisation recommendations. We are holding outdoor as well as indoor workouts in very small approved numbers. We are upholding the strictest social distancing and cleaning/ sterilization protocols. But a stigma and fear has been set for many people to return to gyms, restaurants, and other places of business right now, bringing a lot of extra challenges as we work to build our fitness family and the business back up. I know in my heart that we will recover from this, but I also know that it will take some time - much more time than building from our opening last May.
My mission in life and with my studio, is to change as many lives as possible through health and fitness. As someone who is so used to helping other people, I am not one to ask for help for myself, but this is something I must do now. This year has been both very challenging and humbling for me. Right now, I stand to lose my dream, and everything that I have fought and worked so hard for. Our community stands to lose the place where everyone can come for guided workouts, support, and motivation with no judgement or pressure. I strongly believe that we must continue to have gyms for both physical and mental health, and we can do so while following the proper safety guidelines we have in place.
I know these are uncertain times, and any donation to this campaign - no matter how big or how small - will be so greatly valued and appreciated. I want to continue my mission to help as many people as I can but first, I have to be the one to ask for help. Right now, I need money to pay down the rent and other expenses that have accrued over the last 6 months, retain my team, and keep our doors open. With your help, I can continue moving forward into a better future. I can remain a part of this wonderful community, and keep bringing my best to help others with their fitness and overall health. I can keep shining a light into these dark times and stay positive while helping my members do the same.
If we can build up our funds, and work to get back on top in this amazing community, I make a promise to pay it forward. If you need donations for a school or other charitable auction, or have a small business in Croton and are in peril, or know someone who is struggling with weight, health and fitness issues - I promise to help as much as I can, as much as you are helping me now through this difficult time. I will always promise to work as hard as I can within this community to be a good coach, mentor, neighbor, tenant, and friend.
This dream has come true for me through hard work and dedication. Any money given onwards this campaign would be an investment into someone who will NEVER.. give up... NEVER give in.. and who will continuously always GIVE BACK! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my story, for caring and for anything you may give. If you could please share this campaign with others I would be so appreciative.
I am grateful beyond measure.
Sincerely,
Kim
Organizer
Kim Schneider
Organizer
Croton-on-Hudson, NY