Local strongmen against domestic abuse

For competitive strongman Rob Agnoli, this past weekend’s DASI Walk for Hope and Safety & Fall Fun Day wasn’t just an opportunity to promote his business.

Like the rest of the vendors present, the owner of Newton’s NJ Muscle gym donated a vendor fee to DASI to be a part of the day’s festivities—but the issue of domestic violence hits profoundly close to home for Agnoli, who lost a close family member to an incident of domestic violence.

“I like to get involved with the charity and do as much as I can to raise awareness,” says Agnoli, who has “aligned [his] operation” with Domestic Abuse & Sexual Assault Intervention Services of Sussex County.

He and friend and fellow strongman Brett Somerville set up a few of their favorite pieces of apparatus at DASI’s Fall Fun Day to show off what the sport of strongman is all about.

Starting his one man operation over two years ago, Agnoli immediately went to work raising funds for the non-profit organization by hosting the first-ever “Strongest Man at the Fair” competition in 2011.

This free event encouraged attendees to make a goodwill donation to DASI. Due to its success both “as a fundraiser and in terms of raising awareness,” Agnoli says, the competition was made an annual event, the third of which will be held at next year’s fair.

In addition to these large scale events, Agnoli hosts several demonstrations throughout the year. Working mainly with young athletes from 8 years old through college age, Agnoli says he is able to raise awareness about the realities of domestic violence with his clients from the ground up.

While his services are “all geared towards making them better athletes,” Agnoli shares his stories and anecdotally tries to make the athletes better people, as well.

Celebrating his one-year anniversary at his Woodside Avenue location, Agnoli and NJ Muscle can be reached for consultation by e-mailing rob@njmuscle.com or calling 973-229-2663.

For their first attempt with the event, DASI executive director Jamie Bernard says that “the community really came together and participated and donated in a really wonderful way.”

With all funds raised going towards the non-profit’s support services, which include sheltering victims of domestic and sexual violence and hosting a 24-hour support helpline, among other things, Bernard says the organization is “pleased with the support [they’ve] gotten.”

Victims (as well as suspected victims) of domestic violence or sexual assault are encouraged to call DASI’s helpline at 973-875-1211 for more information.