Sport&Health’s ‘Sweat for a Vet’ Raises $70,000 for Veterans

Sport&Health, a Washington Metro Area health club company, and Project VisAbility, a nonprofit organization helping to create jobs in health and fitness for individuals with physical disabilities, announced the donation of more than $70,000 to U.S. troops with disabilities.

The amount was raised by “Sweat for a Vet,” an effort aimed at raising visibility and funds to provide fitness and rehabilitation equipment to Walter Reed Army Hospital and Bethesda National Naval Hospital, where a combined more than 7,600 wounded troops have been treated since 2003.

Coinciding with Veterans Day, “Sweat for a Vet” was hosted by all 24 Sport&Health locations, in addition to other locations across the U.S. and internationally. The event featured Johnny G., the inventor of Spinning® and the KRANKcycle® by Matrix, and three hours of members and guests competing on KRANKcycles, rowing machines and indoor bikes to high energy music, a live band and a group of celebrity instructors. Top sponsors for this first-ever event included Concept2 and Invacare.

“To answer the large number of veterans returning from war with physical disabilities, Sport&Health wanted to honor American veterans for their service and sacrifice, while raising awareness of our mission to improve lives,” said Jonathan Adler, the CEO of Sport&Health. “Providing physical rehabilitation is among the most important steps to ensuring our war veterans assimilate back into society with strength, fitness and health. ‘Sweat for a Vet’ is an illustration of our everyday commitment to inclusive fitness and employment.”

“Sweat for a Vet 2010, is a unique inclusive fitness fundraising event with disabled riders instructing and participating alongside able-bodied individuals and was shared with clubs and viewers worldwide through live video streaming,” said Debbie Miller, the president of Project VisAbility. “The money raised will help local disabled veterans in a direct and significant way, providing them resources to continue their rehabilitation as well as to expand their vocational options. We’re delighted to be helping our wounded warriors.”

Donations may still be made at www.sweatforavet.org.