Pedaling for donations
YMCA raises more than $3,700 through rally
Members at the Y raised more than $3,700 in February. Submitted photo
WADSWORTH – Some members and staff at the Wadsworth YMCA raised more than $3,700 in the month of February by simply exercising.
For the second year in a row, the YMCA worked in conjunction with Expresso Bikes to coordinate the month-long Rally for the Y.
“Expresso Bikes are these very cool high tech bikes. They have an interactive screen and our members can put in a program and ride in areas with flat hills or mountains or the sea shore,” said Maureen Mizerak, executive director of the Wadsworth YMCA. “Expresso had this great program where members could sign and Expresso would pay 10 cents to us for every mile that the members rode in February.”
Approximately 45 individuals at the Wadsworth YMCA participated in the program this year. Through the money pledged through Expresso Bikes and the donations raised by participants, the YMCA raised a total of $2,739 for their annual campaign which is used to provide financial assistance for those who can’t afford YMCA memberships, water safety programs, obesity prevention programs and other initiatives that benefit people within the community.
“All of the money stays in the community,” Mizerak said.
Also, every participant who raised more than $100 had their name put in a hopper for a chance to win an additional $1,000 for their location. Wadsworth YMCA staffer Brittany Flegel was the winner so the total raised for the YMCA annual campaign during February was $3,739.
“Last year we raised $1,000 so it was a big increase for this year,” Mizerak said.
YMCA Health and Wellness Director Gary Lake said locations all over the United States and Canada participated in this program along with Expresso Bikes.
“Our YMCA was actually seventh for the amount of dollars earned among all of the participating YMCAs,” he said.
Lake said he believes the rally was great motivation to keep people active and riding the bikes.
“Participants would get some donations that were a fixed dollar amount and others were pledges for so much per mile,” he said.
The YMCA will be continuing its annual campaign throughout the year. Staff members plan to set up a chalkboard on one of the walls inside the facility with a thermometer to track how much has been raised. Anyone interested in donating a purchase a star that will be placed on the wall with their name on it.
Anyone interested in learning more about the campaign or donating can call the YMCA at 330-334-9622.
For the second year in a row, the YMCA worked in conjunction with Expresso Bikes to coordinate the month-long Rally for the Y.
“Expresso Bikes are these very cool high tech bikes. They have an interactive screen and our members can put in a program and ride in areas with flat hills or mountains or the sea shore,” said Maureen Mizerak, executive director of the Wadsworth YMCA. “Expresso had this great program where members could sign and Expresso would pay 10 cents to us for every mile that the members rode in February.”
Approximately 45 individuals at the Wadsworth YMCA participated in the program this year. Through the money pledged through Expresso Bikes and the donations raised by participants, the YMCA raised a total of $2,739 for their annual campaign which is used to provide financial assistance for those who can’t afford YMCA memberships, water safety programs, obesity prevention programs and other initiatives that benefit people within the community.
“All of the money stays in the community,” Mizerak said.
Also, every participant who raised more than $100 had their name put in a hopper for a chance to win an additional $1,000 for their location. Wadsworth YMCA staffer Brittany Flegel was the winner so the total raised for the YMCA annual campaign during February was $3,739.
“Last year we raised $1,000 so it was a big increase for this year,” Mizerak said.
YMCA Health and Wellness Director Gary Lake said locations all over the United States and Canada participated in this program along with Expresso Bikes.
“Our YMCA was actually seventh for the amount of dollars earned among all of the participating YMCAs,” he said.
Lake said he believes the rally was great motivation to keep people active and riding the bikes.
“Participants would get some donations that were a fixed dollar amount and others were pledges for so much per mile,” he said.
The YMCA will be continuing its annual campaign throughout the year. Staff members plan to set up a chalkboard on one of the walls inside the facility with a thermometer to track how much has been raised. Anyone interested in donating a purchase a star that will be placed on the wall with their name on it.
Anyone interested in learning more about the campaign or donating can call the YMCA at 330-334-9622.