Reformed prisoner leads bootcamp by example

A FORMER prisoner and a group of DCU students have come up with an innovative idea to help ex-inmates and get people more active.  

CAP (Care After Prison) Bootcamp is the brainchild of Enactus DCU and it involves ex-prisoner, Kieron Kearney, running fitness classes in Albert College Park beside the Northside university.

Enactus DCU is a college society that sets up projects and businesses to solve social issues. The Enactus DCU students had worked with homeless people and people with intellectual disabilities before partnering with CAP back in October.

CAP offers services to support people to live crime free lives. They help with accommodation, education, finance, addiction and much more.

Proceeds from the Bootcamp goes back into CAP and the project itself, while the rest of the money goes straight to Kieron who’s now something of a fitness guru.

“I love doing it, I’m a people person,” he says.

“I love getting people interested in looking after themselves by educating them on how important it is to look after their health.”

Kieron hopes that by educating this generation, the knowledge and interest in fitness can be passed on to their children. 

He says the people that come to the classes are easy to work with.

“I’ve never had one complaint or someone saying they can’t do something and dodging an exercise,” he says. 

The hour-long classes run every Wednesday at 3.30pm and are open to everyone. The classes cost €5 and all fitness levels are welcome.

The sessions are focused on strength and conditioning and there’s circuits and games thrown in to keep everyone going. 

Co-founder of the CAP Bootcamp is Global Business Student Mark Farrelly.

”CAP always gives me a much needed chance to get a break from assignments or study,” he says.

“It’s an opportunity for me to clear my head and it often even revitalizes or motivates me further.” 

Mark added that getting the project up and running was easier than expected because of Kieron’s enthusiasm.

“He obviously has a great passion for health and fitness and his energetic classes made it easy for us to recruit new members,” he tells Northside People.

First year student, David Curtis, has attended the classes since they began in February.

“I love the classes, Kieran is really encouraging and makes the workouts tough but enjoyable!” the Business and Spanish student said. 

Kieron also teaches fitness classes in the Carmelite Community Centre on Aungier Street at 9.15am on Tuesdays and Fridays.  For more information on the Bootcamp see the Enactus DCU Facebook page.

Róisín Nestor