54°
A team from the Norwalk YMCA is busy preparing for SpinOdyssey 2011 at Intensity, a fitness and tennis facility in Norwalk. The event takes place March 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and benefits the American Cancer Society's breast cancer research.
Team Norwalk YMCA is one of many groups taking part in the fundraiser, which consists of teams and individuals engaged in Spinning, Zumba, kickboxing, body sculpting, cardio, tennis and other fitness activities. Participants register for one to six hours for each activity and then raise pledges that benefit breast cancer research. Team and individual top fundraisers are honored at the end of the event. Teams also compete for awards in areas such as team spirit.
As they train through the long winter, the 23 members of Team Norwalk YMCA reach out to family, friends and co-workers to raise money through personal and team online fundraising pages, emails and Facebook. The members are also working toward their $20,000 team fundraising goal by hosting a bake sale Saturday, Feb. 12, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the Norwalk YMCA lobby.
Joyce Quinlan, Team Norwalk YMCA co-captain and a breast cancer survivor, will be riding all six hours. She also will take to the SpinOdyssey stage from 2 to 3 p.m. March 6 as one of the Spinning instructors chosen to lead the hundreds of riders.
"I have done SpinOdyssey every year for the past several years, and it is truly one of the most enjoyable fundraisers around," said Quinlan, who also works as a nurse at Norwalk Hospital. "I am honored to be part of Team Norwalk YMCA again."
Now in its 12th year, SpinOdyssey has raised $2.5 million for breast cancer research and breast cancer patient and family support services. In 2010, the event raised more than $400,000 and fully funded three breast cancer researchers.
The SpinOdyssey concept began with Delia Thompson and Amelie Babkie, two fitness professionals in southwestern Connecticut seeking a way to celebrate the new millennium while helping a good cause. They were inspired by their students' enthusiasm for indoor Spinning and the battle against breast cancer being waged by Delia's sister. The two hosted the first Millennium Ride on Jan. 1, 2000, attracting 50 riders and raising $5,244, all of which was donated to American Cancer Society breast cancer research.
For registration rates and more information about SpinOdyssey events, as well as fundraising goals and suggestions, visit its website. For questions and additional information, email spin.odyssey@gmail.com or call the group's hotline at 203-362-5231.
To donate in support of Team Norwalk YMCA, log on to its fundraising page.
Members of Team Norwalk YMCA gather for a group photo after a recent workout. Team members include: front row kneeling, from left: Kathy Valentine, Dave Roger, Team Norwalk YMCA mascot Ben, Chris Klimek; (top row, from left) Lily Keize (holding photo of absent team member Erin Wathen), Maria Cheung, Betsy O'Malley, Norwalk YMCA Spinning Coordinator Colleen O'Brien, Team Norwalk YMCA co-captain Joyce Quinlan, Team Norwalk YMCA co-captain Eileen Farmer, Monica Lane, Lisa Roger, Katie Morgan and Jenn Inglis.
Are you participating in SpinOdyssey? Tell us about the event below.
