Fit Climbers “Step Up” in the Fight for Air
Fit Lifestyle Studios takes part in the American Lung Association's Race Up Boston Place
Melrose, MA (January 10, 2012)—
Jenine Wright, co-founder of Fit Lifestyle Studios, will take to the stairs in support of lung disease and the American Lung Association for the fourth consecutive year this February. Jenine will climb as the team captain of Fit Climbers, a group of clients and friends recruited by Jenine.
Jenine first heard about the stairclimb event through her husband Brian. Brian Wright is the co-founder of Fit Lifestyle Studios, as well as a professional firefighter Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). He was introduced to the event through the fire department. Each year in Boston, firefighters from all over New England climb the stairs of One Boston Place, in the Mellon Financial Center, dressed in full gear. The fastest firefighter team walks away with the trophy. “I really love the connection between the profession and the mission of the American Lung Association,” said Jenine.
With an extensive background in health, wellness, and fitness, Jenine has all the makings of an individual who would excel at this kind of physical challenge. However, her participation in the event is much more personal than just the fitness aspect. During her lifetime, Jenine has seen an aunt, an uncle, and a cousin of her husband’s pass away from lung cancer; her best friend’s father unfortunately lost his battle with emphysema. Jenine climbs to honor those fallen loved ones and to raise money for the cause - their cause.
As someone with such an immense knowledge of health and wellness, Jenine recruits clients and friends to participate in the stairclimb because of the health benefits. Such an intense cardio workout, like climbing stairs, strengthens lungs, having an overall positive affect on lung health. “Stairs are one of the most intense workouts you can get,” explains Jenine.
Every Saturday morning Jenine holds training sessions for her teammates, which involves a great deal of running stairs. The certified Exercise Specialist and Health Fitness Instructor stresses the importance of building yourself up to tackling the 789 stairs of One Boston Place. Each workout increases 10% from the previous one. Jenine has even contributed her workout plan to the American Lung Association, for distribution to stairclimb participants.
Jenine expects her team to grow as the event dates draws closer. However, there are individuals who would like to climb with the team that are unable to do so, due to the negative effects on their health. One individual in particular suffers from exercise-induced asthma, making it difficult to climb hundreds of stairs at a time. “The air quality in Boston is so bad, being a part of the event is just not plausible,” explains Jenine. Suffolk County received a “D” for overall air quality in the American Lung Association’s 2011 State of the Air report. The full report is available at www.stateoftheair.org.
In order to reach her fundraising goal, Jenine utilizes many different communication tools in order to appeal to friends and family. Some family members receive personal letters, especially those with a close tie to a loved one Jenine has lost to lung disease. Others are sent an e-mail detailing Jenine’s participation in the stairclimb. Perhaps the most effective is her use of social networks. Jenine uses her business’s Facebook and Twitter accounts to recruit climbers, inform about the cause, and ask for donations.
The Race Up Boston Place stairclimb event hopes to raise $350,000 through the generosity of climbers, donors, and sponsors. All proceeds benefit lung disease research, advocacy and programs as well as smokefree and clean air initiatives in Massachusetts. Climbers are subject to a $35 registration fee and a $100 fundraising minimum. Visit www.climbofyourlife.org for more information.
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About the American Lung Association of New England
The American Lung Association of New England is part of the American Lung Association, the oldest voluntary health organization in the U.S. Established in 1904 to combat tuberculosis, our mission today is to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. The focus is on air quality, asthma, tobacco control, and all lung disease. ALANE serves CT, MA, ME, NH, RI and VT.
