Charlotte non-profit gives purpose to forgotten population

CHARLOTTE, NC — Fitness and friendship for a forgotten population. The Charlotte non-profit, RyzeAb0ve Fitness, is providing that for those with intellectual disabilities.

“I think Rise Above Fitness is wonderful and amazing,” said participant, Carly McGirt.

McGirt is one of hundreds of lives changed because of the fitness classes held several times a week, including at Hive Fitness in LoSO.

“It truly makes my heart happy to see people so overjoyed by something so that you would think of as simple,” said coach, Sarah Pizzarello.

RyzeAb0ve Fitness and it’s co-founder Ryan Bost aim to help those with intellectual disabilities find purpose and a community. That can be hard as they age out of programs provided by schools.

“They’re sitting at home, they’re watching TV. They’re playing on their tablets. They don’t have friends, right? So a lot of them struggle with the social interaction,” explained Bost.

That interaction is certainly not missing during classes.

“We use the social aspect to say, hey, like we’re going to hang out with friends, but we’re going to move, we’re going to lift weights,” Bost said.

The nonprofit has grown from 400 classes last year to about 500 this year. Highlighting the need in the community. Other organizations are also getting in on the movement figuratively and physically. Participants like McGirt welcome the growth.

“I think fitness is a wonderful thing, and I just want to continue to do Rise Above Fitness Forever,” explained McGirt.

Click here if you’d like to donate.