Between April 24 and May 2, nearly 200 Orangetheory Fitness members and Volunteers in Medicine volunteers and donors participated in a series of “Charity Burn” events throughout Northeast Florida. The collaborative fundraising initiative was spearheaded by Leslie Gordon, Volunteers in Medicine’s April “Woman With Heart.”
“I don’t believe I ever imagined that through this amazing collaborative effort, we would end up raising nearly $10,000,” said Gordon. “I am so grateful to the more than 200 members, volunteers and several of my fellow Women With Heart honorees for turning out to raise awareness and dollars that will provide the clinic’s patients with prescription eyeglasses, mammograms, wellness exams, nutrition and mental health counseling and so much more.”
Held in seven locations on seven different days, the events’ participants walked, ran and rowed, burning more than 70,000 calories and earning nearly 3,000 “splat” points, which are earned every minute a participant keeps his/her heart rate at 84 percent or higher. One of the ways in which funds were raised included dollar-for-splat-point match challenges.
“I can’t thank Orangetheory Fitness owners Rick and Donna Fenchel and George and Leslie Baccash enough for their support and generosity,” Gordon continued. “It is no wonder that Orangetheory Fitness is the incredible success it is. Their leadership serves as a model for others to emulate and provides members with the motivation and desire to join them in their charitable efforts. Talk about the definition of a truly successful public/private partnership.”
Women With Heart are an exclusive and select group of Northeast Florida women recognized annually by Volunteers in Medicine for their leadership, philanthropy and service to the community at the organization’s signature fundraising luncheon.
“On behalf of the patients, volunteers, staff and board of directors at Volunteers in Medicine, I want to extend a very heartfelt thank you to Leslie Gordon and Orangetheory Fitness for selecting us as a beneficiary of their charitable giving,” said Mary Pat Corrigan, chief executive officer for Volunteers in Medicine. “This money will go a long way in supporting our mission of providing free medical services and programs to our vulnerable working, uninsured families and individuals.”
