Don Moor, Niagara West YMCA Member
How one Niagara West member turned fitness into purpose.
The Milestone
Don recently passed a jaw-dropping milestone: 100 million kilograms lifted. To put it in perspective, that’s the equivalent of 242 fully loaded Boeing 747-400 airplanes or 10 Eiffel Towers.
A 13-year member of the Niagara West YMCA, Don currently completes a full-body workout of 100,000 pounds three times a week, a routine he’s followed consistently for the past five to six years.
That’s 10 exercises, 65 sets, and 1,300 reps—per session.
But the numbers only tell part of the story.
*While Don measures his workouts in pounds, his 13 year YMCA achievement is charted in kilograms—100 million kilos lifted as of March 28, 2025
Flashback to Firefighting
Don’s dedication to fitness began long before he ever walked through the Y’s doors.
He became a firefighter with Whitby Fire Rescue in 1968, a role he hadn’t initially planned for. But after a friend encouraged him to apply, he was hired—and fitness quickly became a key part of survival on the job. He dropped 75 pounds early in his career, going from 255 to 180 lbs, and kept that discipline throughout over thirty-one years of physically and emotionally demanding calls.
“Fitness helped me survive firefighting.”
Don faced close calls, including being struck by lightning during a church steeple fire and unknowingly battling flames inside a room full of oxygen and acetylene tanks. Fitness helped him deal with the emotional toll. “The body is a machine, if one small part goes out, it affects the whole system. But if you fuel it and maintain it, it keeps going.”
“Staying in good physical condition helped protect both myself and my crew.”
Why the YMCA Matters
After retiring to Niagara, Don’s fitness journey continued. He joined the Niagara West YMCA in March 2012 and quickly found that the gym offered more than equipment—it offered connection. “I don’t just come in, do my workout and leave,” he says. “I make time to chat with other members and the amazing staff.” One of those staff members is Tamara, a YMCA trainer, who’s supported Don as he refined and maintained his intense workout routine.
With Tamara’s guidance, Don built a program that he could sustain—and challenge himself with. What began as sessions lifting 300,000–500,000 lbs. in the early years, evolved into 100,000 lbs. per workout, over millions of cumulative pounds. Don eventually passed the 100 million pound mark and set his sights on 200 million, which he attained in Dec. 2022.
When COVID closures interrupted his progress, he kept going. When he had pacemaker surgery in 2024, he took a brief break and built his way back from 50,000 to 100,000 lbs. per session.
Today, he still maintains his high school weight.
His next target is to reach 250,000,000 lbs.
“If it weren’t for the Y, I’d probably be in a nursing home.”
Recovery and Commitment
Don says his fitness has helped him manage his arthritis, as well as recover quickly from work-related injuries, including surgery for a herniated lumbar disc. Because of his occupation, he was told he would be off work for six months to heal. The day he was discharged from hospital, he returned to his fitness regime and was certified back on unrestricted duty just six and a half weeks after his surgery.
He’s equally committed to walking and wellness outside the gym. He and his wife often go to a local greenspace to walk together. It’s part of their shared routine. “Walking helps both of us stay healthy.”
“We stay fit for each other – we’re in it together”
Built to Last
Don still plans to continue his high-volume workouts, though he’s open to scaling back to 50,000 lbs. a session in the future. What matters most to him is movement, commitment, and showing up—for himself and for those he cares about.
“I love a challenge,” Don says. “It keeps me motivated.”
At the YMCA, Don found more than a workout—he found his rhythm for life.
