On Saturday, January 30, 2016, 40 people gathered at The Fitness Studio in Dudley, MA to continue an annual winter tradition. Peddling on stationary bikes for a marathon three-hours, participants of the Annual Kerri Murphy Spin for NOW found their stamina tested with a high-intensity spin class, all in the name of charity. A fundraiser for local non-profit, Northeast Opportunities for Wellness, Inc., the Spin supports scholarships and programming geared toward children living in the 10-town area of Northeast Connecticut. This year’s event saw Putnam Bank on board as the event sponsor. A longtime supporter of NOW, Putnam Bank provided spin towels with CoolFiber ™ technology for participants to use. “We sincerely appreciate Putnam Bank’s sponsorship of the Spin,” noted event organizer and NOW board member, Earl Rosebrooks. “Time and again, Putnam Bank has shown their support for NOW’s mission and their sponsorship helped this event become one of our best yet,” Rosebrooks continued.

Founded as a creative fundraiser in the spirit of providing access to fitness, nutrition, and sports, the Spin for NOW began with a collaboration between personal trainer Amy Williams, and NOW board members Earl Rosebrooks, Jeff Rawson and Jessica Rawson. With its reputation as being the premier spin facility of the area, The Fitness Studio was chosen as the location, and has played host for all five years of the event. In 2013, the event became a tribute to Kerri Murphy, the founder and original owner of The Fitness Studio, who passed away after a battle with cancer. Rosebrooks noted, “In addition to being a fun and challenging fundraiser, the Spin has taken on a special meaning for myself and many of the people who participate, with thoughts and memories of Kerri. We are thankful to the current owner, Jennifer Looney, for continuing to provide a space for the Spin.”

In addition to the three hours of spinning, participants were challenged to other “fitness feats” throughout the day. From planks, to weight-lifting, yoga poses, and more, those who completed the challenges were rewarded with prizes donated by local businesses, including Victoria Station, The Crossings Restaurant and Brew Pub, The Flying Carpet Studio, and more. Free massages were also available, courtesy of Adept Bodywork, throughout the event. The total for the fundraiser is expected to be approximately $2,000.