Union County Volunteer Competes For “Mr. Fitness” Title And $20,000 Donation

INDIAN TRAIL, N.C. — A Union County man is competing for the title of “Mr. Fitness” in an online competition, and says he will donate the $20,000 prize to the nonprofit Common Heart if he wins.

Personal trainer and long-time volunteer with Common Heart, 38-year-old Emmett Ballard, is competing to be named “Mr. Fitness” in Muscle & Fitness magazine.

Officials say Ballard is a Cupboard Ally volunteer who helps deliver groceries and encouragement to Union County families each month.

Emmett Ballard and his wife Michelle Ballard have volunteered together for more than eight years at the nonprofit, and have two young daughters who also serve.

Officials say the Ballards deliver groceries monthly through Common Heart to low-income seniors who often struggle with health issues and many hard-working families just trying to get by.

“We believe in it so much because going into these homes the people are so grateful to see us and to know that someone cares enough to bring them food,” Emmett Ballard says. “Sometimes people just want a little hope in their life. By us bringing groceries it frees them up to think about other things instead of where their next meal’s coming from. They can be more present in life, and the kids more present in school. For us, it’s just been a blessing to help out.”

Click here to vote in the online fitness competition and help Common Heart get $20,000 to help serve more families in need.

Officials say voting will continue through several rounds of competition before the winner is picked on August 5th.

Click here for more information on Common Heart, a nonprofit dedicated to kindness whose goal is to get rid of food insecurity and eliminate generational poverty.