By Jenae Hackensmith
Austin Daily Herald, Minn.
Julie Olson wanted to honor her mother and help people get healthy, so she started a gym.
Olson’s mother passed away in December of lung cancer. So on Saturday, Olson, a personal trainer, held the grand opening of her new gym, Jump Star Fitness, which gives half its proceeds to cancer research.
“I am so very excited,” Olson said. “We just started on Saturday with the grand opening … and it was way more than I ever thought.”
Olson got the building up and running in five weeks, and she said more than 30 people have already signed up to the point where she may have to set more times for the gym to be open. Currently, the gym is open from 6 to 6:40 a.m. and 5 to 5:40 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday, and from 9 to 9:40 a.m. on Saturdays.
Olson also works for a preschool in Austin. Currently, she is making no profit on the gym because after the bills are paid, the rest goes to cancer research. Punch cards, which allow participants 12 uses at the gym, cost $40, and a one-time drop in costs $5. Olson said in time she will likely make a profit, but right now she is satisfied knowing the money is going toward a cause close to her heart.
“I’m blessed for the opportunity to do this, and I want to thank the community for helping me out,” Olson said.
Olson is working with the Hormel Institute and the University of Minnesota with Project Sealth. Her classes include a little of everything.
“I teach everything,” she said. “I’m a personal trainer and I’m trained in all fitness.”
She said classes can include doing basic step-aerobics, high-class, abs-focused courses, and others.
“We can do all kinds of things,” Olson said. “It’s just to get active and moving.”
Olson said her main goal is to get people active and having fun, regardless of what the activity is. She hopes to get children interested in another activity besides computer or video games.
“I want these kids to come with there families and have fun,” she said.
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People can sign up for the gym at the building or on Facebook at Jump start fitness, or can call Olson at 507-383-9844.
“I’ve got kids right now from 3-years-old to 74 all signed up,” Olson said. “And men, women, all.”
