While rare, medical emergencies do happen in gyms. This is why many Planet Fitness® franchise groups take precautions to ensure their teams and members are safe and prepared should a health scare occur. Pinnacle Fit Clubs, LLC had a medical incident recently where their staff worked hard to help make sure their PF® members are safe. Additionally, the group adjusted their club standards, so they always have CPR-certified team members on staff.
In October, Gordon County, Georgia, PF member Harry Russell’s heart stopped while working out due to ventricular tachycardia. The group’s district manager, Brenique Lewis, didn’t hesitate to jump in to administer CPR, while Member Service Representative Katelyn Shigekawa called 911 and General Manager Shelby Purvine set up the AED equipment until the EMT arrived.
Due to their heroic actions, they were able to save the member’s life. A few weeks later, Russell brought the employees cookies and flowers as a thank-you for saving his life.
Thanksgiving is a great time to bring the family together. However, the holiday can be a difficult time for those who have lost loved ones. Knowing this, the staff at Excel Fitness’s club in Dalton, Georgia, stepped up to help a grieving member celebrate a happy Thanksgiving.
Planet Fitness® member Billy Byrd was having a hard time after his wife of 35 years passed away. He lived alone and was preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving for the first time without his wife. Thanks to General Manager Jessica Moss and Assistant Manager Chris Taylor, along with team members Jacob Land, Adam Rangel and Trinity Lowery, he did not have to spend the holiday alone, as they went to Billy’s home for a potluck Thanksgiving dinner.
It was a true feast, with everyone pitching in for the festivities. Jessica brought a brown sugar ham, green bean casserole, sweet carrots, homemade banana pudding, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and cheesecake. Chris brought macaroni and cheese. Trinity brought mashed potatoes. Adam brought a fruit bowl and rotisserie chicken. Jacob brought the drinks, plates and utensils. Additionally, team member Olivia Akers sent homemade chocolate chip cookies and team member Sharlene Caldwell sent apple pie.
After eating a delicious meal, the team took a trip down memory lane with Billy, viewing his family photos in his home. Chris and Billy played the guitar and sang country music, classic rock and blues music together. The whole group joined in singing classics like “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd and “Blues Man” by Hank Williams Jr. The day was filled with fun, lightness and comfort for Byrd during a holiday that otherwise would’ve been lonely if the Excel Fitness team hadn’t stepped up. It was proof that PF staff are truly there for their members, both inside and outside the gym.
“It was just an honor getting to spend time with Billy and hear stories about his wife and his time in the military,” Moss said. “He teared up showing us a photo on their wedding day. The love they had for each other was beautiful to see transcend past death.”
To Planet Fitness® member John Powers, Planet Fitness and exercise saved his life. Since March 2024, Powers has been a member of a Carolina Fitness gym in Shallotte, North Carolina, where he works out 4-5 times per week.
“Daily exercise keeps me healthy. It helps me recover. It gives me purpose. Some people start their day with coffee. I start mine with exercise: biking, lifting at Planet Fitness or stretching. That is what keeps me going,” said Powers.
John Powers is no novice to struggles. He was diagnosed with cancer when he was 34 but was able to fight through it. At 54, he had a five-level spinal fusion surgery to repair the spinal damage caused from the radiation treatment needed years earlier to treat the cancer. Just days after his spinal surgery, his daughter encouraged him to get out of bed and continue exercising. Before long, he was back to biking 20 miles a day, lifting weights and competing in the North Carolina Senior Games. Over the past five years, he earned 10 gold medals in shot-put and discus.
Things were looking up, but then tragedy struck him again at age 64. This past summer, he was in a car accident where he fractured his spine and ruptured his mesenteric artery. He was bleeding internally and his colon started to fail, so he had to have emergency surgery. His doctors credited his fitness as the major reason he survived. He luckily made a full recovery and is now back to hitting the weights and biking at Planet Fitness.
“You never know when your body might be tested to its absolute limit, so exercise will ensure you are always prepared if that test comes, and it will let you live a healthier life and may be the reason you get to keep living it,” said Powers.
Throughout all these struggles, he has gotten stronger, and he has learned the importance of continuing to show up for yourself, even when life keeps throwing hurdles. Planet Fitness gives members an affordable and judgement free place to work out and stay healthy.
“Fitness is not about medals or muscles. It is about resilience. It is about showing up. It is about doing what you can, especially when it is hard. Planet Fitness is a great environment for everyone to do that. If you think it is too late, it is not. You do not have to lift heavy or run fast. Any exercise is better than nothing,” said Powers.
Ohana Growth Partners partnered with two Team USA Olympic athletes who competed in Italy this February. Biathlete Deedra Irwin from Pulaski, Wisconsin, and cross-country skier Kevin Bolger from Minocqua, Wisconsin, served as hometown ambassadors as the franchise group expanded its portfolio in the Midwest. This partnership was especially notable as Ohana Growth Partners was opening its first-ever Wisconsin club in Rice Lake around the time of this partnership.
“We’re proud that our expansion into Wisconsin is guided by partnerships that genuinely resonate with local communities,” said Justin Drummond, president of Ohana Growth Partners. “Deedra and Kevin embody what it means to prioritize health and fitness and commit to bettering yourself, values that align perfectly with our mission.”
With the partnership, the athletes will be included in regional marketing, including digital promotions, billboards, in-club signage and social media. The marketing will spotlight how they are Wisconsin natives, as well as their hard work and dedication to becoming an Olympic athlete.
Pictured is one of the regional marketing promotions highlighting the Olympic athletes and new club opening in Rice Lake, Wisconsin.
It was the first time Ohana Growth Partners has worked with Olympic athletes before, and it was a great way to promote its newest Wisconsin club while celebrating fitness and competition. The Olympic athletes served as a reminder to those living in the Rice Lake area that fitness can truly change your life.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Deedra and Kevin as they represent the very best of Wisconsin – determination, grit and heart,” stated Peter Hall, director of marketing. “As we get ready to open our new Rice Lake club in Wisconsin, we want members to feel inspired by local talent that reflects the strength and resilience of this community. This collaboration represents where our company is headed, expanding our footprint while uplifting the communities we serve and encouraging everyone to prioritize both physical and mental wellness.”
As the official fitness partner of the Oregon Ducks Athletics, Easy Mile Fitness brought energy, excitement and its passion for fitness to the University of Oregon’s final home football game of 2025.
Held at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, the Easy Mile Fitness team was there to cheer on the University of Oregon players alongside the other fans. Several staff members set up a Planet Fitness®-branded booth in the stadium, sharing the benefits of a PF® membership. They passed out black “Go Ducks” rally towel for fans to wave throughout the game. They also had a friendly competition in which people could attempt to do 26 pull-ups for a free PF Black Card membership in 2026.
The football game provided the perfect opportunity for the franchise group to connect with prospective members, promote fitness and healthy living within the local community, and celebrate the excitement of local sports.
