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Make Every Move Count: This Year’s Zumbathon for THRIVE is Coming to the Wellness Center This Friday

By Rachel Emily Auton

Feb. 20, 2014. In honor of American Heart Month, Appalachian Regional Healthcare System (ARHS) is hosting a Zumbathon this Friday, Feb. 21 from 4-7 p.m. in the Paul H. Broyhill Wellness Center. The event is an extension of the second annual Heart Shape Event, which was held earlier this month. 

unnamed“Make Every Move Count” is the Zumbathon’s slogan, said Gwen Dhing, Zumba instructor at the Wellness Center.

“We’re moving and exercising, but it’s also counting towards charity. It’s a chance for people who love to dance to get together and have camaraderie for a good cause.” 

The three hour Zumba dance marathon will feature routines by five instructors set to everything from Top 40 songs, to oldies, to latin based Zumba music. 

“We’ll have a mix of everything,” said Dhing. “If you’ve never tried Zumba, it’s a good time to come and try it with these different instructors. Each of us has our own style.” 

Dhing will be joined by instructors Vanessa Benavides, Gina Ross, Nikki Deal, and Joey Souder. 

The registration fee for the event is $10 and includes a Heart Shape bracelet. Door prizes will be given away routinely throughout the night. All proceeds from the event will benefit ARHS’s THRIVE scholarship program. 

THRIVE is a medically supervised program which helps patients with chronic diseases transition from management to wellness through exercise, nutritional counseling, chronic disease education and self management strategies and planning. The program, which requires physician referral, features both a cardiopulmonary and oncology track. 

For more information about THRIVE, click here. For more information about the Zumbathon, click here or call (828)268-8960.