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A fitness class is working together to raise funds to support nonprofits in the Lakeway Area.

Dona Bryon and her ‘Pay it Forward Fitness’ is held four times a week at First Presbyterian Church in Morristown and runs off of donations from participants.

Byron, who retired from the United States Air Force after 27 years of service, created the class to provide affordable fitness classes while also helping the community.

She hosts the class for free and the money each class raises is given to local organization who serve the community.

“With the gyms in town, they aren’t inclusive because they are so expensive and outside some people’s ability to pay,” Byron said. “No one should not have the chance to work out because they couldn’t afford to so that how the program was born.”

“I originally thought about just hosting a class for free, but I thought why not take a small donation from each participant and give that to local charities in the community to help them serve.”

The program started in the beginning of November and the group votes each month on agencies in the area they want to help.

The class previously donated $306 to the Daily Bread and $540 to Food on Foot TN and they are working the month of February to raise funds for the Morristown-Hamblen Humane Society.

“We want to help all the animals in the shelter who just want to find a home and be loved,” Bryon said. “The facility is always in need and my students wanted to help them out this month.”

Byron plans to continue to help Food on Foot and other local agencies in the area.

“My goal is to help those organization when they really need it. If they have a big event planned in a certain month or if they expect a lack of donations we want to step in and help when help is needed,” Byron said.

The class has low, medium and high impact exercises placed throughout the workout.

“We use weights to strengthen our muscles because as we tend to lose some muscles and ensure we have the ability to live life. We also do some cardio to help boost our metabolisms and help lose weight.”

Byron has something new planned every single class to keep participants’ heart rate pumping.

“On Mondays we do cardio conditioning; on Tuesday we do cardio groove, where we do mostly dance and aerobics; Wednesday is circuit, where we set up stations for people to work their muscles so every day is something new,” she said.

To come to class all new participants need is a mat and some water. However, Byron has extra mats for those who forgot their mat. All other equipment such as weights are provided by Byron.

“My goal is to make it easy and affordable,” Byron said. “I want people to not have to worry about going out here to pay for the most expensive equipment, with this program they can just come in a get a good workout.”

“What people can expect when they come to a class is warmth, love and fun,” Byron said. “I say I am the light, love and laughter of Christ and that what they will be greeted with.”

“We are a family here. As soon as someone new come in everyone is greeting them and asking their name and making them feel welcome.”

Wendy T., a longtime participant of the fitness class cannot express her gratitude to Byron for creating the class.

“We love Dona so much because she gives older ladies and men an opportunity to work out,” she said. “It’s not always about the youthful folk and we’re blessed she gives us a chance to strengthen our bodies.”

“Her energy is so wonderful, she is so much fun and she never has a bad day. She inspires us all to continue to work hard.”

Wendy T. explained connections shared among the participants of Pay it Forward Fitness.

“There is a lot of community to it, we support each other so much. Everyone has a group of cheerleaders to push each other forward and not give up.”

Byron has a busy schedule planned for March with four classes planned each week that are filled with a variety of cardio workouts.

For more information on Pay it Forward Fitness and its classes visit its Facebook page.