Red Cross Resolutions Gym-A-Thon

This Saturday the Tri-County Red Cross, Cranford Fitness Challenge and Cranford Chamber of Commerce are kicking off the first ever Red Cross Resolutions Gym-A-Thon. 

Held at the Cranford Recreational Center at 220 Walnut Avenue, the Kick Off will be the starting line for this week long fundraiser. 

Supporting fitness centers, participants and individuals interested in learning more should attend the free event. 

The Gym-A-Thon is a fundraiser where participants raise money for the distance they walk, run or bike in a fitness center using treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes. Participants can also exercise at home, on the road or anywhere else and track their miles.

This is a great opportunity to get to the gym, get in shape and raise money for the Red Cross. It's easy to join, simply;

• Ask your friends, family and co-workers to pledge a dollar or more per mile you exercise during the Gym-A-Thon;
• Exercise within your fitness level during the week of January 16-24, 2010, and track how many miles you exercised during the week;
• Collect the pledges from your friends, family and co-workers and give it to your fitness center's coordinator.

On average, the Tri-County Red Cross spends $65,000 each winter on disaster relief in its 22 communities.  This includes shelter, food, clothing, material support, storage and other services required to respond to more than 45 home fires and other disasters from November to March each year.

While the Red Cross is mandated by Congressional Charter and the State of New Jersey to respond to disasters, it receives no budget item funding from the government.  Instead, it relies on the generosity of local individuals, organizations and businesses to fund Red Cross community services.

The Red Cross Resolutions Gym-A-Thon is a fun way local fitness centers and health clubs can work with their members to raise the resources necessary for Red Cross volunteers to be there when they are needed most.

Participants can sign up at partner fitness centers and gyms, or online at http://www.tricountyredcross.org/gymathon.

The following businesses have already agreed to partner with the Tri-County Red Cross on the Gym-A-Thon, and more are on the way:

LA Fitness Sports Club, 200 New World Way, South Plainfield, NJ 07080

Strength and Fitness Club, 570 E. South Avenue, Cranford, NJ 07016

5 Star Gym, 233 East 5th Street, Plainfield, NJ 07060

Mountain Fitness, 76 Stirling Road, Suite 400, Warren, NJ 07059

JFK Health & Fitness Center, 70 James Street, Edison, NJ 08820

New Jersey Boot Camps, 209 Dietz Street, Cranford, NJ 07016

Next Steps Fitness, 29 Alden Street, Cranford, NJ 07016

Personal Best, 100 Center Street, Garwood, NJ 07027

Plainfield YMCA, 518 Watchung Avenue, Plainfield, NJ 07060

Power and Fitness, 280 Saint Georges Avenue, Rahway, NJ 07065

Powerhouse Gym of Watchung, 1680 US Route 22 East, Watchung, NJ 07069

RWJ Rahway Fitness & Wellness Center, 2120 Lamberts Mill Rd, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076

All money raised supports Red Cross disaster relief in New Jersey, throughout the United States and around the world.

If you would like to make a donation without participating in the Gym-A-Thon, you can contribute online at www.tricountyredcross.org/donate.html or by calling Corinna at (908) 756-6414.