From the Gym to the Stage: Local Trainer Lip Syncs and Dances to Raise Money for COVID-19

Local fitness trainer, Lois Smith, sees the impact COVID-19 has on the body. She has trained young and healthy people who have struggled to gain their strength back after surviving the disease. That’s why on March 11, she will lip sync and dance to raise money to end COVID-19 as a part of the American Lung Association’s Lip Sync For Lungs.

Smith began her career as a teacher, but after she moved to a community that didn’t have a gym, she decided to open F.I.T. in Beaufort. Now she trains at Gold’s Gym in Mount Pleasant and teaches Pilates at Exhale. Through her work, she trains people with lung cancer, asthma and other lung issues that require the use of breathing exercises and the need to strengthen the lungs. In the past year, she has had clients return to the gym after surviving COVID-19.

“I have clients that are coming in two months after COVID, and they are still having a hard time catching their breath. It is so different than anything I have ever seen before. It takes them a long time to get back to where they were before they had COVID-19. These are young people, too,” said Smith. “Also, many of my clients suffer from asthma, so breathing techniques have become an important part of my training.”

Smith has had friends and clients involved in past Lip Sync For Lungs events and has attended the event in the past, so when she was asked to participate this year, she was excited to get involved. The event features five local celebrities performing lip sync and dance routines in an epic show-down to win the title of Lip Sync Battle Champion. She enlisted local chorographer Courtney Sarre from Charleston Academy of Musical Theatre to help with her performance. 

“I have no dancing skills,” she said. “So the choreographer designed it around my athletic ability.” 

Most importantly, she is looking forward to raising awareness for lung health and money to support an important cause.

“I like being a part of anything that has to do with health and prevention. I like that I can take what I do in the gym and raise money to put it to something bigger. My son suffers from asthma and I have so many clients that suffer from exercise-induced asthma, so it is good that I can support a cause like the American Lung Association,” she said. “And after this year with the pandemic, I don’t think many of us are taking our heathy lungs for granted.”

The Lip Sync For Lungs Live Battle V will be held March 11 at The Bend, and the event offers a virtual viewing option as well. Learn more about the event, get tickets and help Lois Smith meet her $10,000 fundraising goal by voting for her at LipSyncForLungs.org.