The Northern Sport Centre will be the site of unique ‘marathon’ fundraiser      photo courtesy NSC Facebook

Prince George, BC – It will not be a typical marathon getting underway at the Northern Sport Centre later this morning.  In fact, it may be a more challenging one for participants of the Heart & Stroke Foundation’s ‘Fitness Marathon for Heart’.

“It’s a first-of-its kind in Northern BC,” says Heart & Stroke Foundation Area Manager, Lori Cruddas of today’s fundraiser.  “The word ‘marathon’ evokes images of all sorts of great physical activity, but what the Northern Sports Centre has done is, basically, wrap up all sorts of fitness classes that you might take during the week and put them into one whole day.”

The hour-long classes kick off at 8am with FIT Camp, move through Vinyasa Yoga, to a Groove Dance Party at 10am, and feature Shotokan Karate and Tae Kwon Do in the following hour.  After a 10-minute break for snacks and beverages, the afternoon sessions roll out until just before 4:30 when stretching and some much-needed recovery begins.

“We’re challenging people – can you do the whole day?  Can you do every session,” says Cruddas.  “Can you come and show yourself and show the community that you’ve got what it takes to be really fit, and support the Heart & Stroke Foundation at the same time?”

Cruddas says six teams and seven individuals registered online and another 150 others expressed their interest via the event’s Facebook page, so she’s hoping for a good turn-out.  She adds registrations will still be accepted this morning, starting at 7am at the NSC ( $90 for individuals and $300 for teams of four).  Many of those registering in advance raised their fees through pledges.

Cruddas expects this unique fundraiser to catch on and attract quite the following in years to come.  She says sponsorship is already in place for next year, so, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the ‘marathon’ will become an annual event.

For more information, you can go to www.fitforheart.ca .  As part of its effort to support the Foundation’s Heart Month, the Northern Sport Centre has been hosting a number of free workshops and information sessions.  On Monday, February 22nd at 7pm in the NSC’s Wolf Den, the Familly Y will be giving a presentation on its new Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation program.