Small Gym Makes Big Impact

Barbelle Real Fitness For Women has raised $20,230 for the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation of Rhode Island through fundraisers, individual efforts and proceeds from their Second Annual Fashion Show.

The Gloria Gemma Foundation provides support to women and men before, during and after a breast cancer diagnosis by providing education, access to wellness resources and support programs.

The more than $20,000 donation was raised as a group effort by Barbelle’s 350 members. “We are excited because we’re a small club, so this was an astonishing amount for us, I thought,” said Kerry McElroy, the owner and manager of Barbelle.

According to McElroy, the club has had many members and staff touched by breast cancer, including a front desk employee. As a result, “the members are very supportive,” she said. “We’ve done other fundraisers in the past, but this was just unbelievable.”

To raise money, Barbelle Real Fitness hosted a Zumbathon, spaghetti dinner and even a fashion show. In addition, 12 Barbelle members camped at Colt State Park in Bristol, Rhode Island, and walked in the GloriDays 3 Day 44 Mile Walk, as part of the team “Barbelle’s Breast in Show.” The team earned the “Top Fundraising Team Honor” from The Gloria Gemma Foundation.

“It was so neat to see the Gloria Gemma Foundation so happy to have us at the walk and be able to donate so much money to their cause, because they’re a small organization like us,” said McElroy. “They’re a small community like us, so it was neat to align together.”