West Hartford fifth-grader George Udal is making a difference with his passion for fitness and philanthropy. At just 11 years old, George has already raised $2,500 for Dog Star Rescue’s “Dog Star 4 Vets,” a special dog adoption program for dishonorably discharged U.S. military veterans. George organized a six-week winter session of Fitness Class Training, a running club for children ages 3-12, where children would run laps with the goal of going a little farther each week. The program not only helped children increase their fitness but also supported Dog Star Rescue’s DS4V program.
Back in 2020, when George was just 8 years old, he started Fitness Class Training in his backyard in West Hartford as a way to stay in shape during covid. With the support of his parents, Betsy and Matthew Udal, who are avid CrossFit enthusiasts and involved in other athletic pursuits and area nonprofits, George also chose to charge a nominal fee for the fitness classes and donate the proceeds to charity. It started with just friends and family members, but the program has continued to grow, and children from several towns participated in the Fitness Class Training program just completed, held Sunday afternoons at the Conard High School track.
“This season there was a bonus of exercise stations for the kids, which seemed to be the part they liked the most,” said Betsy Udal. “There were kettlebells, sled pulls, sandbag carriers, jump ropes, ladders, and several other fun exercise challenges. The kids got charms to hang on their backpacks to work out at the exercise stations and to run the mile.”
In less than three years of business, Fitness Class Training has become a 501(c)(3) and donated more than $20,800 to local charities in 2022, according to Betsy Udal. The organizations focused on animals and/or veterans that also include open doors Outdoors and running for wild ones at the Bronx Zoo. Total donations to Dog Star Rescue exceed $14,000, including the $2,500 donation to Dog Star 4 Vets from the last session.
“We match qualified veteran servicemen and women with deserving homeless abandoned dogs,” said program director Bonnie Gaynor of DS4V. “Our goal is to place dogs that have ended up in shelters as a result of being abandoned or surrendered by their owners, into permanent homes with military veterans, where they are cared for through respect and companionship. We offer discounted adoption fees for honorably discharged veterans, discounted veterinary care through Veterinarians Everywhere, and financial assistance for approved training programs.”
Gaynor said Dog Star is proud of the program, noting that “companion dogs for military veterans can improve mental well-being, motivate veterans to get up and go out into the world, and improve disabled veterans’ transition to civilian life.” It’s a cause that George and his family are proud to support, and they continue to inspire others to get involved.
More information about Fitness Class Training and future programs or volunteer opportunities can be found at Fitnessct.org, @fitnessclasstraining on Instagram, and Cardio training on Facebook. By working together to stay fit and help others, George and his team are making a big difference in their community.
