In May, a group of women from Elements are heading out of the gym to bring fitness and friendship to Mexican women formerly involved in human trafficking.

The group will bring their expertise in exercise and healthy eating to children and women forced into sexual slavery and labor while also getting a crash course in the work of El Pozo de Vida, which means Well of Life in Spanish.

Marion resident, fitness instructor and clinical social worker Suzanne Gokavi is one of the women who will head to Mexico City in May.

“This is right up my street,” said Gokavi. “I’ve been looking for something that would come across my path and this just fit it so well.”

El Pozo, a nonprofit, works to end modern day slavery and human trafficking by working with victims of sexual exploitation, and by rallying others to fight against trafficking.

The week-long trip to Mexico was sparked when Elements owner Ann Marie Churchill read about El Pozo workers Kathleen Gately Delgado, a Wareham native, and her husband Oscar in a Wareham Week article.

While visiting her hometown last summer, Delgado came to the gym. Churchill recognized her from the story and told her she wanted to help the rescued women.

Delgado welcomed the “fit and serve” trip, and in the meantime Churchill began selling Nunayu jewelry, a project started by El Pozo to give the women in their care a way to learn a skill and earn income.

When the itinerary arrived at Elements, the plan was set, but General Manager Emma Maloney said, “Ann Marie was already fully in it.” The plan includes day hikes, fitness sessions, working with the jewelry makers and playing with kids who were also rescued from trafficking.

“They’re transitioning from human trafficking into real life, having jobs or going to school, but they don’t really know about fitness or healthy lifestyles,” said Maloney. “That’s what we’re trying to do – bring all of that to them.”

Maloney learned from Delgado how dire the childhood was for many of the women.

“Because many of them have been in this lifestyle, they don’t know how to live a regular life,” she said.

While Maloney won’t be able to go on this trip, it wasn’t difficult to find other women who wanted to join. In addition to Gokavi, two other employees signed on, and before they could ask, three customers approached them.

This will be the first such trip for trainer Therese Amato of Wareham.

“I am a little nervous. I’m definitely meditating more than I usually would,” she said.

But most of all, Amato said, “I’m excited to bring some joy and happiness into these girls’ lives. This trip is not about me at all. It’s all about these women.”

Amato looks forward to educating the girls and women on how important it is to move. While they probably won’t have gym access, there is plenty they can do to get in cardio, even taking the stairs. The Elements group will bring athletic shoes, yoga mats and resistance bands so the ladies can workout in their own homes.

Tricia Wheeler’s job in Mexico will be to help survivors learn to prepare their own food, including healthy snacks and a few sweets. Wheeler, a Rochester resident and proprietor of Tricia’s Treats, makes desserts for Margaret’s Restaurant in Fairhaven and Brew Fish in Marion. She also works the front desk at Elements. Hearing the stories of human trafficking survivors was eye opening for Wheeler.

“I have a very independent life. I don’t have to be subject to that at all,” she said.

She said the motto behind her baking is to make “life a little sweet” for others, and that’s what she hopes to do in Mexico.

“If I could teach these girls how to bake and eat healthier, I’m all about it,” Wheeler said.

The group is working to raise $10,000 to make their trip happen, which includes paying for day trips and covering wages for the women while they are participating in the activities.

So far, the Elements ladies have received $2,035 on their Go Fund Me page and other fundraisers are planned. There are already a number of items donated from local businesses and friend being raffled off in Elements’ front room.

A signed jersey from Patriots player Rob Gronkowski will also be raffled off soon.

On Saturday, March 12 regular gym operations will be shut down with express workouts offered instead. For $20, members and non-members can come for workouts offered every half hour with trainers from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The full donations will go towards the $10,000 goal.

Brew Fish has a special El Pozo Margarita with $2 from the sale of each drink benefiting the trip. A paint night is in the works as well.

The gym will also accept donations of gently used gym shoes and flats for the women.

To donate online, visit www.gofundme.com/wadbtm2s or contact the gym for more information by calling Elements at 774-678-0782 or emailing hello@elementsfitnesswareham.com.