A benefit Zumbathon will be held Saturday in Kinston for two reasons — to raise awareness of a deadly disease and to honor the memory of a very special woman.
The event will take place at the Galaxy of Sports Health Club on U.S. 70. It begins at 2 p.m. and is scheduled to run through 5 p.m. Admission is only $5 and all proceeds will be donated to the Jim “Catfish” Hunter chapter of the ALS Association.
ALS — amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. It’s also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, named after the legendary New York Yankees baseball star who died of the disease.
The husband and wife team of Beth and Anthony Strong are the ones responsible for organizing Saturday’s event, which features a relatively new exercise craze called Zumba. The exercise includes loud, exciting music with dancing and aerobic movement instead of typical movements.
“It’s fun and athletic at the same time, but there’s a lot of good music,” Beth said. “Zumba is a little dance class that has really caught on in a lot of areas. We thought it would be a good way to get everyone together for a fun event and raise money at the same time.”
Beth said there would be some small raffles and 50/50 drawings scattered throughout the event to raise more money for the cause. There will also be Zumba shirts on sale.
“More than anything, we want to spread awareness of ALS and have fun at the same time,” Beth said.
For Anthony, the group fitness manager at Galaxy, the cause is a personal one. Neatha Walters, a close friend of his, died from the disease a few years ago.
“When she passed away, it was so sudden,” said Anthony, who will be joining Walters’ family in an ALS walkathon next weekend. “She was a very special woman who meant a lot to everyone who knew her.”
Bryan C. Hanks can be reached at 252-559-1074 or at Bryan.Hanks@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at BCHanks.
ALS Awareness Zumbathon
When: From 2 to 5 p.m., Saturday
Where: Galaxy Health Club, U.S. Highway 70
Admission: $5
For more information, contact Anthony Strong at 252-559-0822, Beth Strong at 252-286-1660 or the Galaxy Health Club at 252-523-3038