Sportsplex Prepares For Relay For Life With Special Classes

Sportsplex in Bethel is gearing up for June 9, when it participates in a Relay for Life event at the Bethel High School track, 300 Whittlesey Drive.

Relay for Life is a team-based relay-style event that helps celebrate cancer survivors and remember those who have lost their lives from it. It is the signature fundraising event of the American Cancer Society, according to Bethel resident Erin Nielsen, entertainment co-chair at Relay for Life.

As part of the event, Sportsplex instructors will give two high-intensity
exercise classes—Sh'bam, which is at 6 p.m., and Body Attack, which is at 7 p.m. The classes are free and open to anyone.

“Teams fundraise for the American Cancer society year-round.  The money they raise helps support the American Cancer Society’s research programs, and programs for cancer patients and their families.  It also helps
educate communities about cancer.

“This is a very emotional event.  When the whole community comes together at the same time for the same cause, it’s very special,” Nielsen added.

Sportsplex has participated in a Relay for Life event for about many years, according to Sportsplex’s membership director Lisa Evaristo, a Bethel resident.

Last year, nearly 500 people came to the Relay for Life of Bethel, Danbury and Redding .  The event, which was held on the front lawn of the Clifford J. Hurgin Municipal Center in Bethel, raised more than $90,000.

On October 20, Sportsplex will once again be promoting healthy living when it joins forces with the Bethel Chamber of Commerce at The Healthy
Living Expo.  The goal of the Expo, which will be at the Bethel Municipal Center, is to encourage natural, healthy, and eco-friendly living.  There will be from 75-100 vendors at this event.  Sportsplex exercise instructors will be giving free classes at the Expo all day.

On St. Patrick’s Day, Sportsplex raised over $6,000 at a spinathon, which took place at its facility. Participants rode on a stationary bicycle to raise money for The St. Baldrick's Foundation, a charity that works to help
fight childhood cancers.  “We plan on hosting this event every year,” Evaristo said.

Sportsplex, which opened in 2001, has been just as busy helping people get healthy inside its doors as it has on the outside.  The 28,000-square-foot facility has squash and racquetball courts, personal training services, and over 80 exercise classes including cardio kickboxing, pilates, yoga, and hip hop.

In October, Sportsplex will be starting up its “Lose Big” program.  This 8-week program, which is also open to non-members, offers group training in a competitive but friendly environment.  As part of the program, groups
of three to five people are educated on nutrition and weight training.  They attend educational seminars given by trainers, and keep a food journal.

“We teach people to become more responsible with healthy eating habits,” said Darren Cain, Sportsplex’s fitness director.

Another specialty program offered at Sportsplex is BOSU, which is a balance trainer resembling an exercise ball that’s been cut in
half.  According to Cain, this class improves balance, core stability, and endurance.

Bethel resident Robin Vaughn, 49, regular takes Sportsplex’s TRX class.  The TRX is a soft nylon strap that gets anchored to an area that can support the user’s body weight. 

“The TRX challenges my entire body and gives me a really great workout. It requires a lot of core strength,” said Vaughn, who has been a member of Sportsplex for 18 months and works out there five days a week.  “TRX
has given me increased strength, more muscle definition, and an overall
improvement in my fitness level.”

“We have always enjoyed being a part of Bethel,” Evaristo said. “Aside from offering a lot of programs at our facility to get people healthy, we like to be out there in the community, doing something fun to raise
money for great causes.”