Charity event will honour popular John Gilardi by giving 'A Hunner Percent'
When John Gilardi died in a horrific car smash last year, his family and friends were utterly devastated.
Known affectionately as 'Mr Hunner Percent', the 49-year-old accountant and businessman was loved and respected for his larger than life personality, generous nature and natural enthusiasm.
Reeling from the news, his friend Liam Walker vowed that when the time was right he'd 'do something really big' to honour the memory of the man he greatly admired.
A year on, he's true to his word and planning a huge fitness event to raise money for the charity that John helped found before his death - the Ayr-based Harbour.
Liam, who owns Eevo Training, at Sandyford on the outskirts of Ayr, will host HPX: Hunner Percent Race at the town's Riverside Sports Arena this summer, with athletes travelling from across the country to take part.
He explained: 'John was my client, a friend, a mentor and business advisor, he had such a big impact on everyone who knew him.
'We've called it the 'Hunner Percent Race' because that is what he was all about, you'd ask him if he thought something was possible and his response was always 'a hunner percent'
'There were never any half measures with John, 'if you are going to do something you do it big and you do it well', that was his attitude, so this is why we are going to make sure this event does him proud, great quality for a great cause that John believed in.'
HPX has the support of John's wife Arlene, son Jacob and daughter Beau, with all profits donated to the 'My Heart is With Harbour - the John Gilardi Legacy' fund, a subsidiary of the addiction charity Harbour that he co-founded and where he also acted as trustee and treasurer until his death.
The group supports people recovering from drug and/or alcohol addiction, helping them become independent and integrate back into the community.
Liam explained: ' The charity meant a lot to John, he was so well respected among those who knew him and he did a lot of good.
'He passed away just a few days after taking part in the charity's inaugural sleepout, he was really committed to it.
'Fitness and health were really important to him, he gave a 'hunner percent' there as well, there were no half measures for John, he'd love what we are doing, it's what he was about, he'd have been the first to sign up. We've had great support for the event, including from the council and Active Schools, we really appreciate the help they have given us.'
The event takes place on Sunday, August 10 and has both competitive and non-competitive divisions.
It is a Hyrox-stye race, and includes a range of functional-fitness exercises, with lots of running thrown in to make sure there is plenty of sweat to go around.
Some of the fittest athletes in the sport are expected to take part in what will be the hotly-contested male and female (pairs) competitive divisions, with thousands of pounds in prize-money up for grabs.
Mixed pairs are acceptable in the aptly named 'no-regrets' non-competitive race, again reflecting John's lust for life.
He added: 'The no regrets division will be exactly what it sounds like, take part, help us raise money for a great cause and have a brilliant experience, you don't need to be the fittest person around to join in, just be willing to have a go and give it a hunner percent.'
It costs £120 per pair to take part and you can find out more by visiting the HPX Fitness Race page on Facebook, or by emailing team@hpxrace.fit
Liam went on: 'John Gilardi did everything to the max, we want to honour his memory by doing the same, we want to wow everyone with this event and raise lots of money, but most of all we want to do his memory proud.'
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