Sporting heavyweights unite behind World’s Biggest Bootcamp

Auckland's sporting heavyweights unite behind World’s Biggest Bootcamp

Auckland’s professional sports teams are united in their support of the World’s Biggest Bootcamp at Eden Park – an event that aims to encourage healthy living and highlight the obesity epidemic afflicting many of New Zealand’s communities.

In what is surely an unprecedented show of cross-code unity, the Blues (rugby), Warriors (league), Breakers (basketball), Aces (cricket), Tuatara (baseball) and Mystics and Stars (netball) have all confirmed their support for the event.

Hosted by former celebrity boxer turned health campaigner David ‘Brown Buttabean’ Letele, the World’s Biggest Bootcamp is calling on Aucklanders to head to Eden Park on Sunday, February 24 to break the world record for the most people performing simultaneously performing a squat.

The current record is 2812, set by Szkola Wychowania Fizycznego I Sportu UAM - the department of physical education and sport at Poland’s Poznan University – on May 10, 2017.

Co-captain Patrick Tuipulotu confirmed the Blues are right behind an event that will take place on the hallowed pitch on which the club has claimed three Super Rugby titles.

“Everyone at the Blues supports David and what he’s trying to achieve,” Tuipulotu said.

“I know in my Polynesian community, for a lot of people it’s really challenging to live a healthy lifestyle. The positive benefits of being active can be life-changing so we’re really pleased to get behind this event, and help set a world record!”

Blues management have confirmed that a delegation of players and staff will attend the bootcamp.

Tuipuloptu’s support was echoed by Warriors captain – and reigning NRL Dally M medallist – Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

“As a club we are right behind David Letele and everyone who is making this happen,” Tuivasa-Sheck said. “It is a great idea and should be heaps of fun.

“It’s all about getting people more active and staying healthy so it would be great to see a huge turnout there.”

The SKYCITY Breakers may be locked in a mighty struggle to crack the NBL playoffs as their regular season enters its final weeks, however that hasn’t stopped the ANBL franchise throwing its support behind the WBBC.

General Manager Dillon Boucher said the club was a keen advocate of promoting health, well-being and participation in sports and fitness and was looking forward to seeing a big turnout at Eden Park on February 24.

“We are happy to support such a great initiative and help spread the positive message about the advantages of living healthy and active lifestyles,” Boucher said.

Breakers CEO and owner Matt Walsh is also looking forward to attending the event and is encouraging all Breakers fans to get out and join him at Eden Park.

“The SKYCITY Breakers love getting behind and endorsing events like The World’s Biggest Bootcamp. My family and I are excited about getting the chance to exercise on Auckland’s famous Eden Park field and hope to be joined by Breakers fans from all over the city at what will be a fantastic event.”

Netball’s Mystics and Stars will be fully committed to the opening round of ANZ premiership matches on a blockbuster day for the sport on February 24, however both have pledged their support for the WBBC and are encouraging those fans that can’t make it to Hamilton to get along to Eden Park.

“There are so many things to be excited about with Eden Park opening their gates for the Biggest Boot Camp on earth,” Mystics chief executive Nicole Spratt said.

“Whilst we cannot be there on the day – its game day for us - we would love to see everyone who can participate join in this awesome event. Being active and having a lifetime of participation in sport and activity can only energise us all.”

The Mystics' cross town rivals the Stars are also right behind the WBBC.

“The Stars are fully behind the event and if it wasn't for the fact that it is our opening weekend of ANZ Premiership we would be there with bells on,” chief executive Diana Lasenby said. “It’s a great initiative for a great cause. Many people living in our South Auckland community struggle with the negative health impacts of obesity, so the club is 100% behind an initiative that promotes healthy living and an active lifestyle.”

Auckland Cricket’s Aces have a full-on few days of their own on their hands heading into the WBBC, with a four-day Plunket Shield match against the Otago Volts scheduled to finish on the day of the bootcamp.

Auckland Cricket chief executive Iain Laxon said that, if the Aces finished their match in time, they will pitch up to the bootcamp quite literally with their boots on. If the Aces’ match is still in progress, he hoped bootcampers would head over to the Outer Oval to support the team.

“We’re delighted to lend Auckland Cricket and the Aces support to David’s bootcamp mission,” Laxon said.

“The Aces will be doing their own boot camp that weekend in a Plunket Shield game against the Otago Volts, but we hope everybody swings behind what is a great idea and highlights a real issue in our society. We wish David all the best, and encourage anyone who needs some entertainment afterwards to wander across to the Outer Oval and catch the Aces in action!”

Auckland Tuatara inaugural general manager Ryan Flynn said that, while the club’s players were flung far and wide during the club’s off-season, the Tuatara would be encouraging the city’s baseball community to get along to Eden Park.

“We would love to see the baseball community of Auckland get out and support such a great initiative,” Flynn said.

“Wouldn’t it be amazing to say you were part of a world record? Not only will you be able to do that, but you will be doing something that will help make lives healthier. The Tuatara players are spread far and wide right now but keep an eye out on the day as they will be doing their part from afar via social media.”

Letele said he was overwhelmed by the united support of Auckland’s sports teams.

“This is just incredible,” Letele said. “To have the backing of all these sporting legends and Auckland’s wider sporting community is both very encouraging and very humbling.

“The World’s Biggest Bootcamp is going to be epic. It’s going to be great fun - and it is going to help make a real difference to a whole bunch of people struggling with their health due to effects of obesity. For many, it will be quite literally the first step toward a healthier, happier life.”

A non-profit event delivered by the Just Move Charitable Trust, the World’s Biggest Boot Camp is supported by Nutribullet, SKYCITY, thl, DFM and Eden Park.

About David Letele

David Letele is living, breathing proof that obesity can be overcome – and an inspiration to thousands of Kiwis.

Once weighing in at 210 kilograms, Letele now weighs less than half of that. He achieved his transformation purely through hard work and dedication to his goal of turning his life around. He now works tirelessly to motivate others dealing with the challenges of obesity. His private facebook group has over 11,000 members, many of whom have achieved life-changing levels of weight loss and improved cardiovascular fitness.

David is currently working with social service providers and funders across Auckland to deliver his highly effective pilot programme to improve the health outcomes for morbidly obese people in South Auckland.

BBM’s leadership team deliver free bootcamps across Auckland almost every day of the week, providing inspiration and support to thousands of Kiwis.

Support for the World’s Biggest Boot Camp

Keven Mealamu, Former Blues and All Blacks hooker
Dave has been such an inspiration to our wider community, leading not only through his personal experience but also his help and energy to help others through their journeys and making positive impacts to people from all walks of life.

Duncan Garner, broadcaster
Don't miss the biggest boot camp on earth. Honestly, once you've been to see Dave at one of his bootcamps you'll struggle to stay away... full throttle energy, no one is left behind; your mind, body and soul will be turned upside down, in the best way possible. See you there.'

Ruben Wiki, former Kiwis captain
I have followed Dave for a while now and what his journey has entailed from Rock Bottom to one of the Most influential people in our community. What he has done for our everyday people has been amazing, whether it be advice on health and well-being, nutritional tips and someone to listen to. The initiative he is putting forward is amazing and I support this awesome concept.

Monty Betham, former Warriors captain and pro boxer
The most impressive thing about Dave is his consistency. He stays consistent in himself and provides a truly impressive example for others. The World’s Biggest Boot Camp is a great way for Dave to reach people who will benefit from hearing inspiring and uplifting message.

About the World’s Biggest Boot Camp
Where: Eden Park
When: Sunday, February 24, gates open at 10.00am for an 11.00am start
Who: Up to 20,000 Kiwis on the Eden Park pitch
What: A free ‘boot camp’ exercise set feature a world record attempt for most people performing a simultaneous frog squat.
How to be a part of it: Visit www.facebook.com/brownbuttabean/ click on the event page and confirm your attendance - or simply turn up on the day. It’s as easy as that.
Be in to win: register a group of 20 or more and be in to win a corporate box at a Blues game hosted by Keven Mealamu. Email worldsbiggestbootcamp@gmail.com with your team’s details to go into the draw.

About Eden Park
Eden Park is New Zealand’s national stadium and a globally-iconic arena, located in central Auckland.

Eden Park Trust operates as a statutory not-for-profit body corporate, registered as a charitable trust with the Charities Commission. Its objectives are to promote, operate and develop Eden Park as a high-quality multi-purpose stadium for the use and benefit of rugby and cricket as well as other sporting codes and other recreational, musical, and cultural events for the benefit of the public of the Auckland region.

Its rich history and profile is unmatched by any other stadium in the country. From its beginnings as a cricket ground in 1903, Eden Park became the primary venue for major summer and winter sport in Auckland when in 1913, the owner, Auckland Cricket, leased winter use of the ground to Auckland Rugby.

A Deed of Trust establishing Auckland Cricket and Auckland Rugby as the beneficial owners of Eden Park was signed in 1926 and has since been enshrined in legislation. Most notably remembered for hosting the 1987 and 2011 Rugby World Cup Finals, Eden Park remains the home of both Auckland Cricket and Auckland Rugby as it has been for more than a century.

Each year, more than half a million sports and entertainment fans from around the world visit Eden Park. The stadium successfully hosts sell-out crowds of up to 50,000 on match days and hosts more than 1,000 non-match day functions per year.

ends

© Scoop Media