Dylan Haviland – Special to the Southern News
Across Southern Connecticut State University and nationwide this October, pink reigns above all other colors. Shades of vibrant pink are noticeable everywhere as students proudly display the color for breast cancer awareness. Yet on Oct. 22, passerby’s at the student center may notice something peculiar outside of their beloved Dunkin’ Donuts. On the student patio there will be rows of several stationary exercise bikes, waiting for students to hop on.
The SCSU Fitness Center is holding the Cycle for a Cure workout on Wednesday Oct. 22 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.. The event will offer all SCSU students a chance to break out their pink headbands and perform a satisfying and exciting workout for breast cancer awareness.
“We felt like this event could be really effective because instead of doing a traditional bake sale or stand,” said Emily Quail, sophomore marketing major. “Exercise we learned is very important in preventing cancer. So we figured while we are spreading awareness we might as well help people prevent cancer for themselves.”
The SCSU Fitness Center has teamed up with Colleges Against Cancer, an organization associated with The American Cancer Society and Relay for Life to put this event together. College’s Against Cancer is a program that brings in colleges across the country to create their own chapters and raise money and awareness for all types of cancer.
“As Colleges Against Cancer I got together with the fitness center and when they mentioned to us about doing a cyclethon, I thought it would be perfect to do during breast cancer week,” said Taylor Keefe, junior psychology major at SCSU, along with being the school’s president of its chapter with Colleges Against Cancer.
With the brisk weather of autumn still approaching, students will be able to enjoy the active workout the event has to offer. For a three dollar donation for a 30 minute ride or five dollars for a one hour ride students can experience a rewarding workout for a good cause.
The event will even host a live instructor to help students along, accompanied with a motivational soundtrack prepping up the songs that gets the workout going.
“It will be like a regular cycling class inside but outdoors,” said Abby Delise an exercise science major of the SCSU graduate program. Delise will also be assisting many of the students as one of the instructors of the event, motivating and tutoring the proper technique for the workout.
“Definitely something that would make me want to go is all the people and the involvement, being up there with people I haven’t met before that are also interested in cycling and exercising,” said sophomore collaborative education major Ashley Veltri. “Especially for such a good event that everyone wants to help out in, the music even sounds like it’ll be a great touch.”
Veltri recalled seeing the stationary bikes during welcoming week this year and how involved the students were, but was disappointed in how she was not able to partake in it. Cycle for a Cure will give students the chance to do this public exercise for the first time, with their peers if they missed out on welcoming week.
“We had done a really awesome outdoor cycling class during welcoming week and we wanted to do it again,” said Jessica Scibek, the assistant director of the SCSU Fitness Center. “We are trying to inspire people to be fit for themselves, participate and exercise for their health. Along with getting their friends and family involved and simple things.”
