Help Save Sacrifice Fitness

https://www.facebook.com/SacrificeFitnessLLC/ 

My Name Is Josh King.  In May Of 2016 I decided to chase a dream of mine. I opened a small gym in my home town of Poca, West Virginia. I was not sure if the gym would make it a year or even a month.  I just knew that I was working construction like my dad and grandfather before me, I knew that I did not want to look back on life and think “ what if”, so I went for it, I quit my job and with the help of a partner at the time we went for it. Up until that point working out was my passion outside of working 40+ hours a week.  Working out had saved my life as a teenager and If I could save even one person with my gym I knew my risk would of been rewarded. For Two years I barely made a dime. Just able to keep the lights on. But during that time I made relationships with people and watched many accomplish things that you really couldn’t put a price on.  I could go on and on about the ups and downs life had to throw at me over that time but at the end of the day the moral of the story is I never gave up. I believed in my small hometown of less than 1000 people. I believed in the potential of my small building. I knew I may never become a planet fitness but I also knew you couldn’t put a price on doing what you love every single day.  Fast forward 2 more years, I went from 1 partner and a small building  to 3 partners and a new location just a few hundred yards up the street. Once more when taking on the new location tomorrow was never promised. I just knew I had to risk it to earn the biscuit as they say and crossed my fingers my new location would bring on brighter days. Fast forward a year from that time I found myself alone as sole owner and my one and only partner to be had was myself. I know I’m skipping along fast here but I don’t want to bore you with all the details in between.  During this time at the new location things did pick up, I could see a light at the end of the tunnel I had never seen before. And more than anything I was taking pride in being my only partner and employee. I knew then the gym would become what I made of it with no need to depend on anyone or anything else.  During this time I met many new people, picked up clients as well as members, Started working with my local schools and athletes,  while I’m thankful for each and every member/client I do have to name one that I believe changed me as much as I changed him. Daniel. Those of you who know me know Daniel. Up until Daniel I was no different than any personal trainer, but when he transformed so did my business. People saw what he had accomplished and In turn believed in what they could accomplish. If not for Daniel the lights at the gym would have been off a long time ago. I will never be able to repay Daniel for believing in me and my methods of training. I could also go on about Daniel and many other clients as well as members for days. While I won’t name anymore I want you all to know you hold a special place in my heart. And just like Daniel none of anything I have accomplished or will accomplish is possible Without all of you.  I feel as if I’m dragging this out and I apologize but some things just need to be said. I will cut to the chase now as if you have made it this far in I’m sure your wondering what I’m getting at. Fast forward to 2020. The year started off well as it typically does for a gym on the new year. Then Covid Hit. Lockdown ensued in March. I felt as if everything I had worked for was at the mercy of a virus I had no control over. I attempted to sign up for the grants and such in place for small business but my business was deemed too small, I was the owner and only employee and that exempt me from many of the programs in place. I was lucky enough to have saved some money for a safety net and that is the only thing that got me through. When quarantine was lifted for gyms my clients and I got right back on the grind. At first business boomed everyone was ready to get out of the house for the first time in months. I took pride in my little business surviving. And I also feel the need to thank my small town for supporting me through the entire covid mess. As the months have passed what I thought was over when quarantine was lifted has instead ensued. With what I hear the experts calling the “second wave” of covid many things have changed. At first West Virginia had minimal cases. We all felt “safe”. But as the virus passed through the big cities it has now moved onto us small town folk.  What once many of us thought of as nothing worse than the flu has now hit homes.  As the weather got colder the virus seemed get closer and closer to the gym.  Next thing I knew my members and clients seemed to be facing the virus and or exposure to the virus at a alarming rate. I continued and continued to “follow the guidelines” yet the virus had a guideline of its own. While my business had grown and come a long way since 2016 it had not surpassed a point that the virus couldn’t derail that progress. These last two
months in particular I watched the virus hit home in more ways than one. Members and clients loss loved ones. Clients and members forced to quarantine at the random mercy of the virus. With that randomness come a slowing in business. While I was never getting rich I was surviving and to me that’s what mattered. As long as I could keep the lease paid and the lights on for my members and clients I would be happy. As I said before there’s just things that happen inside of Sacrifice Fitness I just can’t put a price on and that’s what matters to me. As the holidays roll in so do the bills. And In December the virus finally made it to my family as well. We was forced to quarantine.  And what had been a balancing act before to keep the lights on become impossible. Anyone who knows me knows how painful it is for me to ask for help. I hate the thought of owing anyone anything.  I probably should have made this sooner but my pride wouldn’t let me do it. I wanted to be sure I checked every route possible before asking for anything from anyone. Today reality set it and I had to humble myself enough to make this post. I thought about giving up before I would ask for help, but then I thought about my members and clients. And many have heard me say this I honestly don’t know what I’m heading for with the gym and my training I just know that’s it’s bigger than me. I also know there’s people from 5-60+ years old that don’t just want this little gym to make it but NEED this gym to make it. If it was solely about me I would have given up a long time ago. I hate to ask for anything I really do and I’m not asking for any more than it will take to pay my past due bills/rent.  As I said I hate to owe anyone or feel like I owe anyone so please if you do decide to donate and help save Sacrifice Fitness please please please remain anonymous. I can’t live with the idea of owing any of you who do decide to donate if you do. And just know from the bottom of my heart if you do donate anything even a penny I truly truly appreciate you. No matter what happens in the future I want to thank each and every one of you that have helped make my dream a reality the last few years. No matter what happens it has truly been a pleasure to serve this small little town of Poca.  Thank you all. 

Josh