Mr. Motivator Teams Up With Aviva To Champion LGBT Inclusivity And Celebrate ‘Come Out Active’ Week

1990s fitness legend Mr. Motivator stopped city workers in their tracks as Aviva employees led a flash workout session in the heart of London’s financial district. Responding to research that 4 in 10 LGBT people feel sport isn’t welcoming or inclusive, the 67 year-old lycra-clad icon Mr. Motivator (a.k.a. Derrick Evans) braved cold winds on the piazza outside Aviva’s St Helens office to help celebrate the company’s ‘Come Out Active’ week, in support of Stonewall’s annual Rainbow Laces campaign. Watch the video here 

As founding member of Stonewall’s “TeamPride”, a coalition of brands committed to making sport everyone’s game, Aviva hosted the workout as part of a series of fitness classes happening across 13 of their UK offices this week, with employees being encouraged to ‘Come Out Active’ by wearing their rainbow laces with pride, joining in a wellbeing session and becoming an LGBT Ally.

Angela Darlington, Chief Executive Officer of Aviva UK Life, said: “As founding members of TeamPride, we are excited to be supporting Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign for the fourth year running, and this year is our biggest yet! This week we’ve given more than 15,000 employees across 13 of our UK sites the chance to ‘Come Out Active’ and get involved in dozens of fitness and wellbeing classes.

"As well as lacing up and taking part in sessions, ranging from yoga and running to HIIT and ballroom dancing, our staff can show their support in a number of ways. Whether it is pledging support as an active ally, or handing out rainbow laces, at Aviva we passionately believe that inclusion and wellbeing belongs at the very heart of our working life.”

Commenting on the collaboration, Robbie de Santos, Director of Sport, Stonewall said: "Sport and fitness can be great ways of bringing people together, whether friends, families or colleagues. This collaboration is a great example of organisations and celebrities coming together to play their part in kicking discrimination out of sport.”