SHIPPENSBURG, Monday, Dec. 5 — Six local Zumba instructors led numerous community members for a Zumbathon Against Cancer Friday on the Shippensburg University campus.

Event coordinators had a goal of 50 participants, as well as an objective  to raise $500. On the night of the Zumbathon, 82 participants were in attendance with a final total of $620.11 being collected.

Fifty percent of the event proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, and the other fifty percent will be donated to the Nathan Blass Fund to support a University student currently battling cancer. Blass was unable to attend the event as he had treatment that day, but sent a letter which was read at the beginning of the night.

Instructors included Chuck Black, Amanda Courson, Jen Deliz, Melissa Engel-Unruh, Kerry Negley, and Gretchen Pierce. Black is a senior at the University, and Pierce is a University Professor.

Black was the lead coordinator of the event, and contacted Pierce with the idea who helped him reach out to other local instructors to seek their help. Each instructor individually led five songs  and a dance contest for the participants occurred halfway through the night.

Black said the event was “incredibly lively with so many enthusiastic people who just wanted to make a difference while getting a great workout.”

Zumba Fitness is a Latin-inspired dance fitness program that incorporates Latin and international music and dance movements, creating a dynamic, easy-to-follow, and exciting fitness program.