Usually Stacy McDougall spends her time motivating and giving her clients the tools they need to reach their fitness goals.

But her passion for helping others extends beyond the limits of her business, Strength in 2 Fitness in Colwood, and often draws in all of its members.

After losing dear friend Bud Rutherford suddenly in September, McDougall wanted to do something special to honour him at Christmas. She rallied the entire community at her gym and chose to carry on his legacy with the CFAX Santas Anonymous Society, where he would have been in his 20th year volunteering.

In conjunction with the Society, they collected and donated 100 toys in just two weeks.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think 100 of us could have replaced him,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淗e was a huge factor in Santas Anonymous.B次元官网网址�

Since Rutherford was a teacher and principal on the West Shore for a number of years, the group also wanted to help the local community. Organizers at Santas Anonymous went the extra mile to make that happen B次元官网网址� the 100 bear cards with toy requests that the group was given all came from West Shore children.

B次元官网网址淭hat was really cool,B次元官网网址� McDougall said.

It was also a family affair for members of Strength in 2 Fitness, she said. B次元官网网址淎 lot of the families brought their own kids into the gym to pick their own (bear cards).B次元官网网址�

And as a mother of two young children, she wanted to help teach the next generation the importance of helping others in the community. Although, she did make them do burpees before selecting their cards.

B次元官网网址淚n the first night we already had 50 picked up. We had such an amazing response. IB次元官网网址檓 so proud of the Strength in 2 Fitness community.B次元官网网址�

She added she couldnB次元官网网址檛 have done it without the help of her staff, clients and the Rutherford family.

B次元官网网址淥ur goal is to do it every year now B次元官网网址� Every year weB次元官网网址檒l try to do a little bit better,B次元官网网址� McDougall said.

This year did present some difficulties, however. Due to technical problems, the group didnB次元官网网址檛 receive their bears until two weeks before the deadline, putting them on an accelerated timeline. There were also some unheard of or very specific requests that had members scratching their heads as to what they were or where to find them.

B次元官网网址淭he last 10 presents were the hardest. We couldnB次元官网网址檛 find them anywhere,B次元官网网址� she said. But in the end, they managed to track down every gift.

For more information go to strengthin2fitness.com.

katie@goldstreamgazette.com