Joe Wicks has revealed he’s raised £200,000 for the NHS with his online PE classes.
The Body Coach has been holding daily workouts for kids on his YouTube channel since lockdown began, and previously revealed he would be donating all of the ad revenue generated to the NHS to help with the fight against coronavirus.
He revealed the latest total during an appearance on Monday’s Good Morning Britain, after spending two nights in hospital for an operation on his hand.
Speaking to hosts Ben Shephard and Susanna Reid, he said: “I was laying in there on Friday night and Saturday night, and all of Sunday. I was treated by someone from Scotland, Ireland, Iran, Jamaica, Philippines, Sri Lanka and I thought ‘What an amazing place’.”
Joe continued: “The NHS isn’t just a service. It’s a community of people who are out there helping other people.
“It doesn’t matter if you walk into that hospital the richest man on earth or the poorest man in town – they love you, they take care of you, they make you feel safe.
“For that, I am eternally grateful. It was the first time ever I had a true experience of gratitude, and that’s why I want to say a massive dedication today, because the NHS is a wonderful thing. I am proud to announce we have raised £200,000 for the NHS Charities Together.”
NHS Charities Together supports staff and volunteers working on the front line of the coronavirus pandemic.
Joe admitted himself to hospital on Friday night after his hand ballooned up following surgery on it, after a fall from his bike earlier this year.
He revealed his hand had become infected, and had an operation on Saturday to remove metal pins that had been inserted to help heal a broken bone.
As he recovers, Joe’s wife Rosie will be helping out with his online PE classes.
She said: “I want to make it clear that I am not taking his place. I am just demonstrating the exercises. He is still going to be taking the class. I am just doing whatever he tells me to do.
“I had a baby like four months ago so I have had a bit of a break (from exercise), but now I have got back into it. I will either do Joe’s videos or sometimes we will work out together.”
Joe added: “I’m really proud of her. She is really out of her comfort zone.
“She has not done anything like this before, to do a live workout to probably millions of people. I am so proud and I love you so much for it, darling.”
The couple tied the knot in June last year and have two children together.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.