Royal Navy veterans and Portsmouth businessman join forces to create new Southsea Wellness Hub

Retired sailor Knox White and his friend Alfie Ruffell have come together to launch their new community-led business program, the Rio-Vitalise Southsea Wellness Hub.

Scheduled to officially launch on March 28, the company is hosting a tasting event this Saturday at Southsea’s Gaiety Bar in Southsea.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to noon, along with healthy food and drink options, a range of 15-minute introductory sessions will be offered, from hypnotherapy and meditation to self-defense and workouts HIIT.

The event comes after the couple summited Mount Kilimanjaro in January and raised £20,000 for charity – a huge achievement for Knox, 47, who has progressive multiple sclerosis and has to use a wheelchair .

Alfie said: “We are looking to work with different wellbeing partners around Portsmouth. They’ll all be at the Gaiety Bar on Saturday so people can really get a taste of what they have to offer.

Alfie is also the founder of Rio-Vitalise – a CBD merchant – which has partnered with Southsea Wellness Hub to become a hub for individuals to visit, receive support and join like-minded, eager people. improve their mental and physical health.

“I would say 60% of my clients have mental health issues and they come to me for help,” Alfie said.

“Most people feel like they’ve been swept away and given antidepressants, there’s a serious need for a community center like this,”

In addition to classes at the Gaiety Bar on Southsea Pier, which include sessions on mental and physical health, nutrition, photography and even workshops on breathing, the Hub has also opened a crowdfunder to help fund the opening of their booth.

This will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., seven days a week and will offer a range of healthy snacks, frozen yogurts, ‘bulletproof’ coffee and herbal teas, while serving as a hub for the community they plan to build. develop.

“This is for the community, we’re coming together and supporting each other after this difficult time,” said Hub co-founder Knox.

The Hub is particularly keen to create a community where men, in particular, can talk about their mental health without judgement, breaking the stigma surrounding this topic.

To donate to the Hub, visit crowdfunder.co.uk/p/rio-vitalise-southsea-wellness-hub.

A message from the editor, Mark Waldron

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