I spent 15 years lost to drug and alcohol addiction. I’ve now been sober for 12 and I know first-hand what it takes to get there … and to stay there.

My name is Louise and I’m a health and fitness professional working with men in residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation at Pindari House in Perth (pindari.org.au). This project is deeply personal to me and I became a personal trainer and nutrition coach to give back the lessons that helped save my own life; that lasting recovery takes not only a healthy mind but also a healthy body and a healthy lifestyle.

We’re raising funds to create a safe, fully equipped gym so the men at Pindari can rebuild their health, strength and confidence as part of their recovery journey.

Pindari house is an incredible residential facility where men can come to rebuild their lives through a 12-month program that educates, heals and supports lasting change. We want to add a more structured fitness and nutrition program to the outstanding work already happening here, as the research shows how vital physical health is to mental wellbeing and long-term recovery.

Right now, as you can see from the pictures, we don’t have the equipment or space to run the designed program. With your help, we can turn an under-used area into a dedicated training space where the men in recovery can build routine, discipline and pride in their progress.

For the past three years, I’ve run weekly outdoor fitness classes at Pindari using basic equipment. While these sessions have been valuable, the need for structured resistance training to improve bone density and build muscle is well documented, and these changes are strongly linked to better long-term health, greater independence, and increased longevity.

This is why we want to create a dedicated gym. With proper weights and machines, we can incorporate a full range of training styles; strength, cardio, and functional work, so the men’s fitness can continue to progress well beyond what outdoor classes alone can offer. A gym will give them the tools to build lasting physical strength and the confidence to apply those same habits to their recovery and everyday life.

Two of our residents, who are now in the final stages of the program, living in our shared, transitional house and working full time, have both joined a gym and kept their fitness journey going without us. That is the whole goal; men leaving with healthy habits embedded deeply enough that they can carry them for life.

Once the program is up and running, we will be collecting comprehensive data so we can measure the impact that exercise and nutrition has on mental health, physical health and long-term sobriety. We will be aiming to collaborate with researchers to encourage other rehabs to adopt similar protocols.

Addiction does not discriminate; it affects people of all ages, from all walks of life and most of us have been touched by its impact in some way. The consequences of addiction can be far-reaching but so too can the benefits of recovery. The benefits can extend far beyond the individual to families being reunited, relationships with children being restored, employment becoming possible, debts repaid, and crime reduced.

Pindari is a unique place to heal. Set in the hills on five acres of bushland, it offers a peaceful environment to reconnect to self and to rebuild a life. We believe that holistic recovery should be available to everyone, and this gym is a key step towards that vision.

Our goal is to raise $55,000 to fully fit out the new gym, including:

• Strength machines (leg press, hamstring curl, lat pull down and seated row)

• Strength equipment (racks, barbells, dumbbells, benches)

• Cardio equipment (bikes, rowers, treadmills)

• Safe flooring, storage and basic safety equipment

To give you an idea of how your donations will help:

• $20 buys a resistance band or mat

• $50 buys a deadball / medicine ball

• $100 buys a pair of 12.5kg dumbbells

• $500 buys a set of kettlebells

• $1000 buys a rowing machine

• $5000 buys a combination lat pull down and seated row machine

Every dollar goes directly to Pindari House (Pindari Ministries Inc), a registered charity. As Pindari holds Deductable Gift Recipient status, your donation may be tax deductible.

If you can help, please consider donating and also sharing this page with your friends, family or workplace. Every contribution, no matter the size, is hugely appreciated and brings us closer to opening the doors of the new gym at Pindari House.

Thank you for supporting the health and recovery of men in our community; you are helping to save lives.

Louise