Tom Lavella, founder of the Positively Impacting Tanzania (P.I.T.) Foundation./PHOTO; Courtesy
A Tanzania-focused non-profit is turning an endurance fitness challenge into a fundraising drive aimed at expanding support for vulnerable children across the country.
Tom Lavella, founder and president of the P.I.T. Foundation (Positively Impacting Tanzania), is set to attempt a world record on February 21 for the highest number of ring muscle-ups completed in eight hours.
The physically demanding exercise, performed on suspended gymnastics rings, requires athletes to pull themselves above the rings and press to full arm extension a movement that demands strength, endurance and mental resilience.
Lavella has spent nearly three years preparing for the challenge, structuring his training around pull-ups and muscle-ups to build the stamina required for an eight-hour effort. While the record itself is ambitious, he says the attempt is deeply personal and tied directly to the foundation’s mission.
“I will be attempting to break ring muscle-ups in eight hours. This is something that is very close to my heart and a very big goal for this year,” Lavella said.
The P.I.T. Foundation, founded in 2025, works with communities in Tanzania to support children facing financial and social barriers to education and basic care.
Through sponsorship programmes and infrastructure projects, the organisation aims to improve access to schooling, safe housing, and essential services for underprivileged families.
Lavella believes the platform created by the world record attempt can significantly boost awareness and funding for these efforts.
“I believe I have what it takes to break this world record, and I am very excited to be able to use this platform to drive our funding and help for our projects throughout Tanzania,” he said.
Among the foundation’s key priorities is the planned purchase and renovation of a children’s centre known as Land of Love Orphanage.
The goal is to improve living conditions and provide a more stable and supportive environment for children in need of care and protection.
In addition, the organisation is continuing construction of its primary school project, the Makolo and Mabela Leadership Academy.
The school is expected to serve hundreds of pupils once completed, helping to ease overcrowding and improve learning conditions in the surrounding community.
Organisers hope the facility will become a long-term investment in local leadership and development.
“PITS aims to buy and renovate a brand new children’s center called Land of Love Orphanage, as well as continue construction of our primary school, Makolo and Mabela Leadership Academy,” Lavella said.
Access to quality education remains uneven in parts of Tanzania, particularly in rural and low-income areas where infrastructure gaps and financial constraints limit opportunities for children.
Community-driven and diaspora-supported initiatives have increasingly complemented public efforts by mobilising private donors and international networks.
The February 21 attempt will be livestreamed, allowing supporters in both Tanzania and abroad to follow the eight-hour challenge in real time.
Proceeds raised will go toward the orphanage renovation and the continued construction of the primary school.
As creative fundraising models gain traction globally, the P.I.T. Foundation’s approach reflects a blend of personal endurance and community development.
Lavella has previously organised endurance-based fundraising events, including high-volume pull-up challenges at public gatherings.
He believes physically demanding initiatives capture attention in ways traditional appeals sometimes do not, particularly in an era of crowded fundraising campaigns.
As non-profits continue to explore innovative ways to mobilise resources, the P.I.T. Foundation’s approach reflects a blend of personal commitment and community-driven development.
For Lavella and his team, February 21 is not just about breaking a record; it is about building pathways to education and stability for children whose futures depend on sustained support.
