Fitness Club Merritt Island to Host Lifting Contest Jan. 21 to Benefit Who We Play For

Lifting events will include the bench press, deadlift, squat and bicep curl

Manny Shaw, Erik Johnson and Dana Allen: “They are three angels God sent to save me,” said Frank Buzzo after a near-death cardiac event at the gym.

BREVARD COUNTY • MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA – Fitness Club Merrit Island, along with “Big Frank” Buzzo, will sponsor local high school students in a weightlifting contest on Saturday, January 21.

Lifting events will include the bench press, deadlift, squat and bicep curl. There will be a $10 door charge for spectators, which will be donated to Who We Play For.

A world-champion weightlifter, “Big Frank” Buzzo, 70, is a celebrity at the Merritt Island gym that displays photos of him lifting hundreds of pounds of weight. At 6 feet-1 inches tall and 265 pounds, he is an imposing figure who easily earned his nickname.

For more information about the lifting competition, call 321-455-2227.

Locally owned and operated, Fitness Club Merritt Island is located at 1450 North Courtenay Pkwy. Suite 15 in the Shoppes of Victoria Square is among the longest-running fitness centers in Brevard County.

Founded in 2003, the club opened as Island Fitness of Brevard by a group of friends and has made many changes and improvements while remaining committed to the loyal following built up over the years and among the few privately owned gyms on the Space Coast.

“Locally owned and operated, we pride ourselves in offering our services to help train, educate, and inform our members’ bodies and mindsets,” said co-owner Lou Manley.

“Our full-service facility provides an ideal space for all ages to learn to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Our gym has everything needed to help you reach your wellness goals. We were fortunate enough to move to North Courtenay and increase our space to 21,000 square feet. By making this change, we could offer our members so much more under one roof.”

Members will find a bounty of classes and amenities at the newly expanded facility, including an array of brand-new modern high-performance Hammer Strength training equipment, an on-site childcare area and a protein and juice bar.

After a recent expansion project, the gym now features more than 21,000 square feet and includes additional exercise equipment, a new aerobics room, a turf area, additional wet areas and more.

Fitness Club Merritt Island offers the Space Coast’s best personal trainers for hire, fitness level esthetics, child care, the best and most varied exercise classes, and many more convenient amenities.

“Above all, we take pride in the cleanliness of our facility,” said Manley.

■ FITNESS AND CARDIO CLASSES: Learn proper technique with skilled exercise class instructors at Fitness Club MI. Classes include the latest strength workouts, cycling, and group exercise classes. There is a fitness class for everyone! Classes include Yoga, Spin, Silver Sneakers, Pilates, HIIT / Core, Zumba / Zumba Light, HIITSTEP and more.

■ FREE WIFI/CARDIO TVs: More powerful than ever, Fitness Club Merritt Island’s WiFi is now available in every corner of every club. Streaming your favorite music or video while you work out has never been easier.

■ 24-HOUR ACCESS AVAILABLE: You will have access to this world-class facility 24 hours a day, seven days a week when you join. Fitness Club Merritt Island is monitored and recorded via dozens of closed caption security system cameras. You can feel safe coming in any time of the night. Members under the age of 18 will not have 24-hour access.

■ LARGEST GYM IN BREVARD: In addition to offering Brevard County’s largest free weights section, personal trainers have a training room for semi-private training sessions.

■ CHILD CARE SERVICES: Onsite childcare is available to all members. The safety, security and comfort of members and their children is a high priority.

■ PERSONAL TRAINING: Featuring the most experienced certified fitness trainers and consultants on the Space Coast.

Among the options offered at the family-owned gym are core classes, Zumba and Zumba Light, Boot Camp and Silver Sneakers classes for older adults. Insurance plans such as United Healthcare are welcome, or members may opt for a self-pay month-to-month or purchase three, 6, or 12-month memberships.

Manley, and partner Steve Ash, have been strong supporters of community organizations since the day they took ownership, sponsoring teams at Merritt Island High School, including volleyball, baseball, girls’ lacrosse and softball and also orchestrating several blood drives at the gym.

“Work fast and hard,” is the motto of Fitness Club Merritt Island and applies not just to the members but also to the owners.

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