Club Solutions spoke with Dan Collins, the director of sales for Charter Fitness. Dan recently completed “The Ultimate Hike” with Roger McGreal, Charter’s director of personal training, to benefit CureSearch for Children’s Cancer.
Q: First off, for readers who don’t know, what is the Ultimate Hike, and why did you and Roger decide to do it?
A: The Ultimate Hike benefits CureSearch for Children’s Cancer and is a one-day, 30-mile hike that raises funds and awareness for childhood cancer. The hike took place on the Tecumseh Trail in southern Indiana.
We decided to participate not only because of the fitness challenge aspect, but as a way to help children and families in need. As parents, we both know what it’s like to worry about and protect our children.
Q: What is CureSearch, and why is it important?
A: CureSearch for Children’s Cancer is a national nonprofit whose mission is to fund and support children’s cancer research. The organization also provides information and resources to all those affected by children’s cancer. Currently, cancer is the number one cause of death by disease in children and nearly 13,500 children are diagnosed with cancer each year.
Q: How did the Ultimate Hike go? How long did it take?
A: The hike was challenging, but extremely rewarding. Overall, it took about 12 hours.
Q: What challenges did you face during the hike, and how did you overcome them?
A: We felt very inspired throughout the hike; the energy of all the team members was outstanding. We shared a ton of laughs throughout the hike and it helped keep our minds off the pain our bodies were feeling.
Q: How did CureSearch help you during the hike?
A: The CureSearch staff served as important motivators throughout the hike. They were there to make sure our needs were met as best as possible. For example, they had an aid station every 4-7 miles. They were also there to cheer us on as we hiked through the trail. A big thank you is owed to them for all the time and energy they put into fundraising and making these events successful.
Q: Finally, how much money ended up being raised for CureSearch?
A: We exceeded our goal of $5,000. Our entire group is currently around $40,000! CureSearch is still accepting donations through our Ultimate Hike page and will continue to do so through Thanksgiving. If you’d like to support the organization’s efforts, visit the Charter Fitness Blog to learn how to donate: http://www.charterfitness.com/fitness-blog/donate/.
Stay ahead in the fitness industry with exclusive updates!
Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.
