Tri-County Red Cross To Replenish Disaster Relief Fund Through Gym-A-Thon

Dec. 9, 2009 - PRLog -- The Tri-County Red Cross is holding the first ever "Red Cross Resolutions Gym-A-Thon" from January 16-24, 2010 at fitness centers, living rooms and trails throughout Union, Middlesex and Somerset Counties.

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.

“In January we all resolve to do more for our community, and for most of us we resolve to get in better shape,” said Nathan Rudy, the Executive Director of the Tri-County Red Cross. “The Red Cross Resolutions Gym-A-Thon is a great way to cross off both these items from your New Year's Resolutions, by working out and raising money for disaster prevention and relief.”

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.

About the American Red Cross:

The Tri-County Chapter of the American Red Cross, celebrating its 92nd anniversary in 2009, has headquarters in Plainfield, NJ. The Chapter provides health and safety, disaster response and military communications programs and services to more than half a million residents of 22 towns in Union, Somerset and Middlesex Counties.

Union: Clark, Cranford, Elizabeth, Fanwood, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Union, Winfield Middlesex: Dunellen, Edison (NW), South Plainfield Somerset: Green Brook, North Plainfield, Warren, Watchung

Since its founding in 1881, the American Red Cross has become the nation's premier emergency response organization. It has built a reputation around the world as the organization to turn to when faced with a disaster. Its nationwide network of more than 800 chapters is dedicated to saving lives by helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

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About the Tri-County Red Cross: The Tri-County Chapter of the American Red Cross, celebrating its 92nd anniversary in 2009, has headquarters in Plainfield, NJ. The Chapter provides health and safety, disaster response and military communications programs and services to more than half a million residents of 22 towns in Union, Somerset and Middlesex Counties.

Union: Clark, Cranford, Elizabeth, Fanwood, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Union, Winfield Middlesex: Dunellen, Edison (NW), South Plainfield Somerset: Green Brook, North Plainfield, Warren, Watchung