HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. — Members of a Highlands Ranch gym are offering something people who lost their homes in the East Troublesome fire currently need: manpower.
"Manic Training's motto is: Train in, adventure out," said Peter Beuth, the co-owner of Manic Training, a Highlands Ranch gym, where the heavy-lifting may start indoors, but doesn't stop there. "If you can build a community of people here, you can build a great community of people outside the gym."
Beuth said when he and his clients saw people whose homes were burned in the East Troublesome Fire near Grand Lake, they decided to get moving.
"How often have you looked at national news and seen a hurricane hitting the coast of Louisiana and you wish you could go help?" Beuth asked. "This is two hours away. That is striking distance! This is our next adventure out."
Rachel Born and Richard Campbell left their home on a moment's notice when the East Troublesome Fire threatened the Rangeview Community. They are still coming to terms with the loss of everything they own.
"We really thought we were going home," said Born. "So we grabbed clothes for a week and a few small things: pictures, papers and a few keepsakes -- not nearly enough."
Born is a 911 dispatcher, and Campbell is a former volunteer firefighter. Both are normally the people offering assistance.
"I'm used to being the one who's helping other people, and it's been a real lesson in accepting the other side of the coin," said Born.
That's where Manic Training is jumping in, raising money to rent a haul-off dumpster for two families who lost their homes, including Born and Campbell.
More importantly, though, they are planning a volunteer day with gym members this weekend to fill those dumpsters.
"We have a huge crew of people. We're all fit, and we want to help," said Beuth. "So where is our gym work going to come? The fact that we're going to spend an entire day out in the cold and wind, lifting heavy things, dirty things and just keep moving."
For two families who have lost everything, the offer of manpower means everything.
"There is so much work up there to be done I don't even know how we would handle it if they weren't offering to come and help," said Born, who said the work would not be completed until next Spring without these volunteers. "It's incredibly, incredibly appreciated."
Denver7 viewers have also donated to help wildfire victims through the Denver7 Gives fund to the tune of more than $250,000. We are staying in touch with these volunteers and the fire victims to make sure they have everything they need.
We will be following up with where your money went right after the volunteer day happens.
Denver7 features the stories of people who need help and now you can help them with a cash donation through Denver7 Gives. One hundred percent of contributions to the fund will be used to help people in our local community.
