Lift4Life
Lift4life is a charity founded in 2015 to promote the community of powerlifting in developing countries, and utilizes the sport as a means to address community needs.
Most recently, the organization has been on the ground in Zimbabwe aiding marginalized communities by providing powerlifting equipment and resources, and assisting in the establishment of the Zimbabwe Powerlifting Federation (ZPF). They have built equipment locally to provide employment opportunities, organized local competitions, opened up a female only powerlifting facility to ensure the sport is accessible for all, and are currently working towards getting the ZPF recognized by the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) in order to further opportunities for athletes.
As part of this, they recently brought three lifters from Zimbabwe (Audrey, Knox and Ndoo) to the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in Pochefstroom, South Africa. Although the lifters were unable to compete alongside the athletes from around the Commonwealth due to drug testing regulations, a mini competition was hosted for the lifters in the warmup area after the end of proceedings one evening. There were officials and participants from around the world that joined in to referee, load, spot, compere, and lift alongside them. The powerlifting community at its finest!
After a few days of working an international level competition it was great to be able to be right down next to the referees and be in amongst the action on the platform. With Geno and Laura taking turns announcing, some of the lifters pretending to grind out light squats, dancing on the platform etc spirits were high and I genuinely don’t think I stopped laughing the whole way though with one of the highpoints being Lift4Life team member Nicola Paviglianiti sucessfullyperforming a human squat.
Unfortunately I had to leave after the squats so didn’t see the end but I hope that the fun continued.
For more info about Lift4Life or to learn more about contributing to their cause please visit their website or Facebook page
http://www.lift4life-worldwide.org
https://www.facebook.com/Lift4lifeworldwide
Read MoreMost recently, the organization has been on the ground in Zimbabwe aiding marginalized communities by providing powerlifting equipment and resources, and assisting in the establishment of the Zimbabwe Powerlifting Federation (ZPF). They have built equipment locally to provide employment opportunities, organized local competitions, opened up a female only powerlifting facility to ensure the sport is accessible for all, and are currently working towards getting the ZPF recognized by the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) in order to further opportunities for athletes.
As part of this, they recently brought three lifters from Zimbabwe (Audrey, Knox and Ndoo) to the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in Pochefstroom, South Africa. Although the lifters were unable to compete alongside the athletes from around the Commonwealth due to drug testing regulations, a mini competition was hosted for the lifters in the warmup area after the end of proceedings one evening. There were officials and participants from around the world that joined in to referee, load, spot, compere, and lift alongside them. The powerlifting community at its finest!
After a few days of working an international level competition it was great to be able to be right down next to the referees and be in amongst the action on the platform. With Geno and Laura taking turns announcing, some of the lifters pretending to grind out light squats, dancing on the platform etc spirits were high and I genuinely don’t think I stopped laughing the whole way though with one of the highpoints being Lift4Life team member Nicola Paviglianiti sucessfullyperforming a human squat.
Unfortunately I had to leave after the squats so didn’t see the end but I hope that the fun continued.
For more info about Lift4Life or to learn more about contributing to their cause please visit their website or Facebook page
http://www.lift4life-worldwide.org
https://www.facebook.com/Lift4lifeworldwide
