Luke Cooper

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Why I’m Sweating with Pride

I’m taking on Sweat with Pride this June to raise money for our Rainbow communities! πŸ’¦πŸŒˆ

Our schools, workplaces, and doctors’ offices are still not safe places for many Rainbow New Zealanders and it’s putting lives at risk.

More than half our rainbow whānau have experienced mental illness. One in five of our rainbow rangatahi (youth) have attempted suicide. And life changing STIs like syphilis, mpox and HIV are still far too common. Things need to change.

So, this June I’m fighting discrimination with perspiration, and I've committed to exercising for at least 21 minutes EVERY DAY to raise money to support Rainbow Kiwis.

This cause means a lot to me. I’d be SO GRATEFUL if you could chip in to help me reach my goal. Every dollar I raise will fund life-changing mental, physical and sexual health services for Rainbow New Zealanders.

Thank you sooooo much ❀️

My Impact

So far in this year’s challenge I have…

Image of my impact

Helped to sponsor a year of training for two support line volunteers, so they can be there for people in crisis.

Sponsor Me

Track my Progress

I’m sweating for 60 minutes
per day this June!

5,210 minutes completed
1,800 minutes goal

My Ranking

I’m #5 out of 4,336 Sweaty Bettys

5
Profile pic

Luke Cooper

Raised

$4,872

View Full Leaderboards

My Updates

June 30th

Sunday 30th Jun
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LAST DAY! Wrapped up Sweat with Pride with a little cardio on the bike and some abs!

June 29th

Saturday 29th Jun
Little gym session today in at RNZB after watching Inside Out 2!

June 28th

Friday 28th Jun
Todays Matariki sweat was a walk up Mt Vic!

June 27th

Friday 28th Jun
Today’s sweat was the same as yesterday! Class and a rehearsal!

June 26th

Friday 28th Jun
Todays sweat was class and a rehearsal for To Hold!

June 25th

Tuesday 25th Jun
Today was class and rehearsal, topped up with a little gym work!Β 

June 24th

Monday 24th Jun
Did my First Aid course today and unfortunately finished the day with a migraine, so I couldn’t sweat today. So I will be making up for it this week!

June 23rd

Sunday 23rd Jun
Did a quick bike and weights session at RNZB today!

June 22nd

Saturday 22nd Jun
Woke up very tired after a massive week so have only squeezed in a 30min swim today before lunch!

June 21st

Friday 21st Jun
Today was Sarah’s last day in the studio for the creation process so had a big day of cleaning and a run of the piece before she returns in a few weeks before the show opensΒ 

June 20th

Thursday 20th Jun
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Today will be a biggie! Class with the boss, a full run for a dramaturge to see Sarah’s work before it’s fully finished and then donors watching at 5-6! Bracing ourselves, wearing all my new Sweat for Pride merch!

June 19th

Wednesday 19th Jun
Getting closer and closer to finishing all the choreo for Sarah’s work, lots of lifting today!

June 18th

Wednesday 19th Jun
Massive day working on a quartet and lifting for β€˜To Hold’ for our Solace program.

June 17th

Wednesday 19th Jun
Another day rehearsing with Sarah Foster Sproull, and back to 1hour 30min classes at RNZB!

June 16th

Sunday 16th Jun
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I performed alongside Abigail Boyle today!!! Did class, rehearsal and a show with BCA!

June 15th

Saturday 15th Jun
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A quick bike and gym moment before travelling to New Plymouth today!

June 14th

Friday 14th Jun
Today was the last day of class and rehearsals with BCA before the show on Sunday. Also a full on day smashing out a big chunk of Sarah’s new work!

June 13th

Thursday 13th Jun
Getting closer to the BCA show, another day of rehearsals with them and with Sarah at RNZB!

June 12th

Wednesday 12th Jun
Today was the first full costume run of BCA’s Subtle Dances show and it’s looking great! I also ran the first 12 or so mins of Sarah Foster-Sproull’s new work To Hold. Fun day, with a ten min ab workout thrown in.

June 11th

Tuesday 11th Jun
More rehearsals with both BCA and RNZB today, rounding the day out with a swim!

June 10th

Monday 10th Jun
Today was a biggie! Took class and rehearsed β€˜Helix’ and β€˜Subtle Dances’ with BCA and then to RNZB for more of Sarah’s new work!Β 

June 9th

Sunday 9th Jun
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Made it to the gym and pool on this wet, windy Sunday!

June 8th

Saturday 8th Jun
Spent my Saturday in the studio with Abi working some more on Helix!Β 

June 7th

Saturday 8th Jun
A big day of dancing! Started with BCA, working with Abi on the β€˜Helix’ pas and then spent the majority of the day with SFS at RNZB. Finished playing with some pas stuff with Ella for Josh’s Dazzlehands project!

June 6th

Thursday 6th Jun
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Sarah Foster-Sproull is in the house, starting work on her piece β€˜To Hold’ for RNZB’s mixed bill! Lots of shape creating today! Also rehearsed with BCA too!

June 5th

Wednesday 5th Jun
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Day 2 with BCA, getting back into contemporary partnering is lots of fun! Thanks so much for all the support today with the donation match, appreciate the support!

June 4th

Tuesday 4th Jun
Day four was my first class and rehearsal with Ballet Collective Aotearoa for their Subtle Dances show in Taranaki Arts Festival! I also swum 30 lengths in the pool, nice to be back in Wellington!

June 3rd

Monday 3rd Jun
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Back home in Wellington, fresh haircut and hitting the work gym for an hour after being stuck on planes all day!

June 2nd

Sunday 2nd Jun
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Today is the last day of Swan Lake tour and RNZB took class onstage in Invercargill.

June 1st, day one!

Saturday 1st Jun
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Day one was an early start, heading to Jetts Dunedin for a workout with Jemima and Georgia. We had to squeeze it in before our bus ride to Invercargill before RNZB’s last performance of our Swan Lake season.

Thank you to my Sponsors

$233

Cat

Got you to your goal! Yaaaaaaaay!

$123

Matched Donation

Keep on sweating ❀️

$123

Anonymous

🌈πŸ’ͺ❀️

$100

Gillies

$100

Guillemot-Rodgerson Family

Great job Luke 🏳️‍🌈

$100

BNZ, Spark Health, and Synthony

Keep on sweating! Arohanui, BNZ, Spark Health, and Synthony.

$100

BNZ, Spark Health, and Synthony

Keep on sweating! Arohanui, BNZ, Spark Health, and Synthony.

$100

Guillemot-Mene Family

πŸ€— Chris and I both do some work with Moana Va and know how difficult it is xx

$100

Mike Hiscox

$100

BNZ, Spark Health, and Synthony

Keep on sweating! Arohanui, BNZ, Spark Health, and Synthony.

$100

Libby Eglinton

Go Luke - sweat well!!

$100

Yosay Briels

What a fantastic effort Luke!

$100

Nina Woods

❀️❀️❀️

$100

BNZ, Spark Health, and Synthony

Keep on sweating! Arohanui, BNZ, Spark Health, and Synthony.

$100

Georgia Baxter

Slay queen🏳️‍🌈

$100

Stacey Cooper

$100

Matched Donation

Keep on sweating ❀️

$68

Matched Donation

Keep on sweating ❀️

$68

Anonymous

keep sweating

$68

Anonymous

Love your work x

$68

Matched Donation

Keep on sweating ❀️

$68

Josh

You better go through with it punk

$68

Josh Linkhorn

So inspiring 🀍

$52

Matched Donation

Keep on sweating ❀️

$52

Leigh Basile

$50

Matched Donation

Keep on sweating ❀️

$50

Tiana Lung

Love you ❀️❀️❀️

$50

Torzie

Love you πŸŒˆπŸ’•

$50

Aimee Hodgkinson

Xx

$50

Leonora

Get it Luke! Proud of you!

$50

Kerri Baxter

$50

Aunty Jane & Kingston

Love your determination, love you xo

$50

Mali

Go you good thing! Super proud of you

$50

Matched Donation

Keep on sweating ❀️

$50

Emma Carey

So proud of you!

$50

Shaun Kelly

Get it Luke! Fantastic 🏳️‍🌈

$50

Sophie Arbuckle

$50

Matched Donation

Keep on sweating ❀️

$50

Samantha Mason

So proud of you Luke!

$50

Matched Donation

Keep on sweating ❀️

$50

Christine Pearce

$50

Kalli and Rhi

Anything for the gays

$50

Madeline Tratt

Proud of you and who you are x

$50

Helen

$50

Tor Bennett

Proud of you! You’re an incredible advocate 🏳️‍🌈 ❀️

$50

Shae Berney

$50

BNZ, Spark Health, and Synthony

Keep on sweating! Arohanui, BNZ, Spark Health, and Synthony.

$50

Ben & Michelle

$50

Kazzaliz Bennett

You are amazing Luke!

$50

Madeleine Sampson

$50

BNZ, Spark Health, and Synthony

Keep on sweating! Arohanui, BNZ, Spark Health, and Synthony.

$50

Jemima Scott

Love from Jemima and Jake

$46

BNZ, Spark Health, and Synthony

Keep on sweating! Arohanui, BNZ, Spark Health, and Synthony.

$46

Anonymous

$46

Lauren

Goooo Lukey!!

$46

Matched Donation

Keep on sweating ❀️

$46

Kate Martin

$40

Hayley McCarthy

Go Luke! πŸ’šβ€οΈπŸ₯³

$40

Tara Evans

You are amazing πŸ₯°

$40

Francesca

$35

Tash Giera

So proud of you Luke

$30

BNZ, Spark Health, and Synthony

Keep on sweating! Arohanui, BNZ, Spark Health, and Synthony.

$30

Ella Chambers

πŸ©·β€οΈπŸ§‘πŸ’›πŸ’šπŸ©΅πŸ’™πŸ’œ

$30

Gaye Hart

Proud of you Luke x

$30

Emily

Well done Luke!

$30

Z G

$30

Luke Cooper

$30

Jessica Taunt

$25

Liz Wilson

Well done Luke, you are fantastic

$25

Tessa

🌈❀️

$25

Cadence Barrack

I know it’s not much, but I hope it helps! I’m so proud of you! ❀️

$25

Niamh

πŸ‘πŸ˜Š

$25

Matched Donation

Keep on sweating ❀️

$25

Anonymous

$25

Susannah Cookson

Love your commitment to all your communities Luke xx

$25

Matched Donation

Keep on sweating ❀️

$25

Teagan Tank

Have to donate again when it's double day!!! Lots of love and proud of you xxx

$25

BNZ, Spark Health, and Synthony

Keep on sweating! Arohanui, BNZ, Spark Health, and Synthony.

$25

Liz Cocks

πŸ’ͺπŸΌπŸ™ŒπŸ½β€οΈ

$25

Kelsey G

Let’s go Luke!! You’re such an inspiration my beautiful friend. How lucky are we to have such a wonderful and kind person in our lives!

$24

Josh

πŸŽ‰

$20

Matched Donation

Keep on sweating ❀️

$20

Lara

$20

Anonymous

Good work Luke from some Acland whanau

$20

Matched Donation

Keep on sweating ❀️

$20

Poa whanau

Awesome role model, awesome tautoko 🌈

$20

BNZ, Spark Health, and Synthony

Keep on sweating! Arohanui, BNZ, Spark Health, and Synthony.

$20

Jenna Bramble

$20

Tom Larking

Proud of you Luke

$15

Xaddy

$15

Zoe Gilmore

🫢🏻🌈

$12

Anonymous

Proud of you πŸ₯³

$10

Kirby Selchow

Most people donate $50

Please give what you can.

I’d love to hear more from Sweat with Pride