Three members from Blitz Gym in Twickenham have raised more than £6,000 for NHS workers after finishing a year-long press up challenge. By the end of the challenge on Sunday, March 21, they completed 66,795 press ups each.

"It was the beginning of lockdown and I wanted to raise money to support local frontline NHS workers," said Dana Jamieson, who started the challenge.

The challenge started last March during the first lockdown. The team did one press up on day one, two press ups on day two and so on, rising to 365 press ups on the last day of the year-long challenge.

Dana was joined by colleagues Joe Ward and Amy Church. "We haven't been able to do the press ups together, but the team spirit has helped keep us all going," said Dana.

Tim Hagon from the gym in Station Yard said the whole gym has been behind the press up team, albeit from a distance. "Community is a big part of our gym, so we're really proud of them," he said.

Fitting in the ever increasing numbers of press ups has been a challenge for the team, all of them working parents. Dana completed hers every morning, usually all before 6.30am.

For Joe, he fitted the press ups in around his day. "I was doing some in my mother-in-law's garden one day during the summer. She saw me on the floor and thought I'd fainted," Joe said.

"But hangover days with press ups – those are the worst!"

The challenge has been hard physically as well as practically. Both Dana and Joe have been staving off shoulder injuries as a result of so many strict press ups.

Amy has been using her knees as support for many of the reps. "I could hardly do one press up when we started," she said. "I've improved so much over the year, but I've had to use my knees a lot to get through!"

Fundraising superstars

The team has raised £6,400 so far through sponsorship, with all money going to CW+, the official charity of West Middlesex University Hospital.

"We've been amazed to see this epic year-long challenge unfold and are so thankful for the support," said CW+ fundraising director Kerry Huntington.

"This past year has been incredibly tough for our staff, and the efforts of locals like Dana and the team have been crucial to provide support for staff with supplies and equipment, as well as offering a boost for staff morale."

Dane said: "It's great knowing that we're doing something helpful towards the pandemic response.

"Even though it's a tiny thing in the grand scheme of things, and we have sore shoulders, it feels good!"

Dana, Joe and Amy will finish the challenge on 21 March, with 365 press ups each.

You can sponsor them at www.justgiving.com/team/BlitzPressingOn