A philanthropist in Chatham-Kent is organizing a spin-a-thon for a good cause.
Emily Hime will be putting together the Rising Pic La Selle Spin-a-Thon fundraiser later this month. Pic La Selle is the tallest mountain in Haiti, a place where Hime spends most of her time helping locals in need.
Participants will be cycling in teams. In order to win, each team must cycle a total of 130 kilometres, the height of Pic La Selle. While one team member is cycling, the others will be taking part in various activities including burpees and pushups to gain points.
Hime said members of the public who aren't participating in the spin-a-thon can get involved in the event by watching it in person or as it's broadcast live on Facebook. Hime promised fun initiatives that will get everyone involved.
"There's an option for those in the public or for family and friends to donate to specific teams or individuals to either help them in the process to make it more challenging," she explained. "They can donate 20 bucks to add a set of weights to someone's lap or to make them do extra reps. So it will make it kind of exciting. They can also pay to remove somebody off the team or make them play for another team. I think it's going to get pretty interesting. "
Money raised during the event will go towards Hime's ongoing activism in Haiti. After running an orphanage for several years, Hime recently expanded her mission and launched RISE House International, a centre that helps Haitian women and children through poverty. According to Hime, the money will be used to for rent at the facility as she prepares to sign a two-year contract.
"In Haiti unfortunately, you don't have the option to pay month to month. They want the money upfront. That goes for any facility we rent in Haiti. So, we were told, on a short timeline, that we need to come up with this money so we threw together a couple of different fundraiser ideas," she explained.
A maximum of 10 teams can sign up for the Rising Pic La Selle event. Hime said there can be a maximum of 10 people on each team and a minimum of four. She added that although they'll be some fierce competition, you don't have to be a fitness expert to join.
"It's open to any fitness level," said Hime. "We aren't going to make it insanely challenging where anyone will be getting injured or anything like that. It is a fun event and that's the whole goal of the event, is to make it fun for everyone."
The spin-a-thon costs $500 to register and takes place from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on August 26 at Performance 360 Health and Fitness Club in Chatham. The team with the most points will walk away with a grand prize as well as a three-month free gym membership.
Because there's a limit on the number of teams that can sign up, Hime recommends registering as soon as possible by emailing info@risehouse.ca.
