Fortitude shown by new Fylde coast gym owners

The gym has been set up by Tom Farquhar, Mikey Moon and Sam Haines who has suffered with Cystic Fibrosis since birth and has recently been diagnosed with kidney failure.

As well as helping establish the new business, Sam undergoes dialysis 3 times a week, and cheomotheraphy once a month. Tom said: “Fortitude means to overcome adversity, and Sam’s portrayal of this attribute is apparent every day.

“Every one of our members displays their own fortitude each day and hence why we feel the name completely encompasses the type of environment we strive to be.”

He said the three who worked as physical training instructors for various gyms across the area, decided to start their own having realised there was a gap in the market for a particular London-style but friendly gym. Nine months later they opened Fortitude in Poulton at Unit Y3, Beacon Road, at the industrial park.

Mikey said the emphasis was on “functional fitness” and nutrition and the centre has its own specialist cafe plus two “indoor functional climbing jungles” which have such things as monkey bars, rings, hoops.

Sam said: “We offer more than 50 classes per week ranging from parent and baby/toddler classes all the way through pilates and yoga to Olympic Weightlifting run by a British Certified Weightlifting Coach.

"Some 70 per cent of fitness is determined by nutrition which is why we also have an on site health restaurant with a complete menu of meals including vegan.”

He added that Fortitude Fitness boasted a range of Fortitude Athletes who are supported, trained and fed by the Fortitude Team, ranging from Pro Boxers like Jack Arnfield to Para-athlete Josh Landman, to body builders, power lifters and even professional strongmen.