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Date: 10/20/2016
EAST LONGMEADOW – Century Fitness at 491 N. Main St. will help raise funds for Train a Dog Save a Warrior (TADSAW), which pairs service dogs with veterans living with disabilities during the week leading up to Veterans Day from Nov. 7 to 12.
The event, “Raise the Woof for Warriors,” would feature a variety of activities to raise money and awareness about TADSAW, Dan Ingram, manager of Century Fitness, told Reminder Publications.
A list of activities includes military themed workouts, fitness challenges, an outdoor obstacle course, a TADSAW dog trainer meet and greet, a silent auction, and a prize auction, he added.
“We’re fortunate to have Sherrie King of Springfield, who is a trainer and a board member in the area and she is the dog trainer that will match the dogs with the veterans,” Ingram said. “What also makes them unique is that use dogs from shelters. They actually screen the dogs and eventually match the veteran and the dog together early on so they both can get used to each other. Both of them get training.”
He added veterans who are paired with service dogs typically have suffered physical, emotional, or mental health injuries during the course of their military service.
All of the money raised through the activities at Century Fitness would be donated to TADSAW, Ingram said.
"There will be a shake-a-thon day where we will make our traditional protein shakes at our shake bar and the money for every shake is donated to the cause,” he added. “We also have a ‘Fill the Hill’ program. That’s where we have flags that were donated and those flags will start lining the sidewalk on North Main Street on our property so people can see that we’re doing something and hopefully come inside and ask about it.”
He continued, “Along with that, we’re selling T-shirts with a logo that was actually made by a military veteran. He donated his time for that. We also have what we’re calling ‘Paw Prints’ that we’ll be posting in the club, which you often see in the grocery stores when they’re doing a charity event for an organization.”
Ingram said the Paw Prints could be sponsored by individuals or organizations through donations.
He said Century Fitness typically hosts at least two fundraisers on a yearly basis to support local causes.
“When we looked at the fall we thought of Veterans Day and honoring our veterans,” he explained. “And I had heard of [King] and her efforts to match these rescue dogs as trained service dogs for our warriors and I thought that was extremely commendable to say the least. I wanted to somehow offer support and our members are very giving and have been supportive when we ask them for help. They really come through. They’ve done it before and they’ll do it this time I’m sure.”
For more information about the event visit Century Fitness’ website or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CenturyFitness1. A complete schedule of activities would be featured on its Facebook page in the near future.