Why WORKOUT ANYTIME Supports the Veteran Community Through Lift For The 22

Growing fitness brand WORKOUT ANYTIME* has always been tightly connected to the veteran community.

Many franchisees with the brand have military experience, and WORKOUT ANYTIME offers a 22 percent discount on their franchise fee to those who have served our country. But it wasn’t until Beaverton, Oregon franchisee Rick Hascall stumbled upon a trending local hashtag that WORKOUT ANYTIME’s national partnership with Lift For The 22, a veterans support community, was born.

“We have a number of veterans in our WORKOUT ANYTIME family, including our founder, members of our leadership team and a number of franchise-partners across the network, so we felt it was the right thing to do to support not only members of our own internal family, but those who have risked their lives for our freedom here in the U.S.,” said WORKOUT ANYTIME COO Mark de Gorter.

When Portland veteran Carter Davis returned from service, he was suffering from PTSD and depression. He felt that the VA services available to him weren’t adequate and took solace in exercise and connecting with fellow veterans through social media. Thus, the hashtag #liftforthe22, a nod to the estimated 22 veterans that commit suicide every day, came to fruition. It was a way for Carter to connect with his comrades by sharing similar experiences.

When Hascall stumbled upon the social media campaign, he reached out to Carter and offered his WORKOUT ANYTIME club as a gathering place and headquarters for Carter’s mission. The initiative grew into a full-fledged organization. Today, it’s a program that sponsors gym memberships for veterans looking for a place to gather and heal, inspiring them to channel their energy in a positive way.

Lift For The 22 provides struggling veterans a gathering place, support community and a positive outlet for their energy. Veterans are invited to apply through Lift For The 22’s website for a sponsored or gifted gym membership to an organization partner in their community. The gym serves as a backdrop for veterans to come together, bond over shared experiences and heal.

When the WORKOUT ANYTIME corporate team heard about what was going on at Hascall’s Oregon club, they jumped at the chance to get involved. Last Veteran’s Day they launched as Lift For The 22’s official national sponsor and celebrated the partnership by offering 22 free gym memberships to local veterans at each of their clubs.

“Our returning veterans have put their lives on the line for our freedom. To us, they are heroes, but  unfortunately for many, the impact of war overseas—and the challenges associated with assimilation back into civilian life—become very challenging to handle, leading to depression, substance abuse and, in the most sad and unfortunate instances—suicide,” said de Gorter. “We know how health and fitness can make such a difference in people’s lives, and wanted to provide that avenue to those that have so bravely served our country, at a time when they need us most. That’s why we launched our partnership with Lift For The 22, by making available over $1 million in free memberships to at-risk veterans needing a fitness outlet to put them back on the road to health and wellness.”

Since last year, a lot has changed for both Lift For The 22 and the WORKOUT ANYTIME brand. Lift For The 22 has earned its official 501(c)(3) non-profit status and has expanded its reach nationally with the help of the network of WORKOUT ANYTIME clubs throughout the country. WORKOUT ANYTIME has grown to surpass the 100-unit mark and is rapidly growing throughout the country.

“We’ve placed 149 veterans in WORKOUT ANYTIME clubs around the country through this partnership,” said de Gorter. “We have had zero reports of any veterans currently in our program committing suicide, but have many reports of veterans not only achieving a higher state of health and wellness, but also achieving milestone goals in their personal lives.”

This year on Veteran’s Day, to celebrate the service of the military community and its partnership with Lift For The 22, WORKOUT ANYTIME offered a “22-Day Lift Ticket” to any veteran who visits a WORKOUT ANYTIME club with proof of service on November 11^th. This pass will allow veterans to use the WORKOUT ANYTIME facility free of charge for 22 days.

The brand remains the nonprofit’s corporate sponsor and will continue to accept veterans into their facilities through the program, offering a gathering place and a community center for local veterans.

“We felt that eliminating the tragedy of a reported 22 veteran servicemen and women taking their lives each day was too important an issue, and we needed to get involved. We are tremendously proud of this association, and what the tireless team at Lift For The 22 is doing on a daily basis to take that number for 22 to zero. We’re just happy to be playing a part in that effort.”