Training Trainers for Autism Awareness

Staff members at were joined on Friday night by several clients for a "Train the Trainers" event to raise money for National Autism Awareness Month in April.

The Crofton-based personal training company invited its clients to donate money to Autism Speaks for the chance to tell their trainer what exercises to do.

"When we opened up Future of Fitness, we always said one of the goals was to give back to the local community [and] always be involved in any type of fundraiser that we could to help out someone else," said Mac James, owner and head trainer at Future of Fitness.

During the event, exercises and rep totals selected by the clients along the individual trainers names were separated into three bags and then drawn at random to create a scene filled with fitness and fun.

"Some of our clients have been coming through workouts like this all day [and] everyday getting [they're] getting beat up. So we gave them an opportunity to get back at us with 'Train the Trainers.' It's something we want to do every year," James said.

In October, Future of Fitness held "Bootcamp for Boobies" in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The group raised more than $8,000 and donated it to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Clients appreciate James' dedication to helping others.

"He's very generous with the community," said Mary Guessner, a client at Future of Fitness since July 2011. "I can't imagine being at any place else."

Along with the proceeds from the event on Friday, Future of Fitness will continue to collect money throughout the month and then make a donation to Autism Speaks.

Future of Fitness, located at 1612 Professional Blvd., was recently selected as the best gym in the Crofton and Gambrills area in the Patch Readers' Choice contest.