Joe Wicks PE lessons raise £80,000 for the NHS as fitness guru donates all YouTube profits
JOE WICKS confirmed his daily PE lessons for children have helped him raise more than £80,000 to help the NHS cope with the coronavirus pandemic.
GMB: Joe Wicks says ‘it’s amazing’ seeing families join workouts
Joe Wicks launched a new YouTube series to keep Britons across the UK entertained and in shape as they are forced to stay inside because of the coronavirus pandemic. Wicks has been donating all the money earned through his PE With Joe videos to the NHS to help medical staff get the financial support needed to treat patients suffering from COVID-19. Speaking to Good Morning Britain, the body coach confirmed his workout videos helped him raise over £80,000 ($100,000) in the past seven days.
Wicks told hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid he wants to reach as many people as possible with his programme to get Britons moving despite the lockdown.
He said: "I’ve been pulled in every direction because I want to reach as many people. I am not superhuman, I have days where I wake up feeling low and flat but I always use exercise to lift my mood.
"That’s what this workout at 9am is going to do. Doesn’t matter if you’re fit, superset or unfit, you’re going to move your body, get your heart pumping and you’re going to leave feeling more optimistic.
"That’s what we need more than ever. There are parents and families, for the first time ever getting up and exercising."
JUST IN: 'Disgrace!' Piers Morgan erupts at Robert Jenrick for getting coronavirus tests 'so wrong'
At this difficult time for frontline doctors and nurses, sign up here to show your support now to our brave NHS Heroes.
Wicks has been offering free online PE lessons to all Britons since the start of the lockdown and confirmed this week 100 percent of the proceeding of his workout videos will go to the NHS.
The body coach also said he was offered to move his classes to television but rejected the offer to ensure everyone can join him for his daily 9am lessons.
Speaking to the BBC, Wicks said: "I have decided I want to stay on YouTube because I want it to have a global reach.
"I don’t want to be exclusive to one place. I have been blown away by the response."
READ MORE: Anti-viral drug reduces fever and clears pneumonia symptoms
Kay Burley left 'out of breath' after mini Joe Wicks workout
The body coach announced his plan for a daily Youtube PE lesson after the Government confirmed all schools would be shut down because of the virus.
Taking to Twitter after the closure of all
He said: “Starting from Monday, every single day from Monday to Friday, I'm going to do a live workout called 'PE with Joe' on my YouTube channel The Body Coach TV.
“It's a workout specifically designed for kids. Because when the schools closed, there is no PE. Don't worry, I've got you.
“I'm going to take this over. I'm going get your kids moving, fit and energised, positive and optimistic."
DON'T MISS
Police powers: What powers do the police have amid COVID-19 crisis? [EXPLAINER]
Shock chart shows UK just 15 days behind Italy in pandemic crisis [MAPPED]
Coronavirus experimental drug could stop COVID-19 from attacking lungs [INSIGHT]
Wicks has been working as a personal trainer for five years and has a 1st degree in Sports Science.
The body coach also matured previous online experience as a nutrition coach, claiming to be able to transform someone’s body in just 90 days.
He was due to launch a tour around schools in the UK to inspire youngsters to eat healthily and stay active but plans were scrapped because of the pandemic.
The personal trainer instead reverted to Youtube to keep children forced to stay home from school entertained, but his PE lessons have also won over parents and Britons of all ages.