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Shawn Burgo
Karen Capuzzi
Kenji Freedman Linda Manzella
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Once a teacher and counselor to underprivileged students, now a personal trainer and fitness enthusiast, Kenji Freedman has two passions in life: staying healthy, and helping others. As a volunteer for Family Reach, Kenji has found a way to bring the two together.
Kenji was first introduced to Family Reach through Director of Development and Special Programs Carla Tardif, who spoke with him about the everyday financial burdens families face while struggling to balance the incomparable emotional and financial toll of helping a loved one fight cancer. Having seen the impact first-hand through his own loved ones' experiences with cancer, Kenji was deeply touched by the stories, and immediately started to think of ways that he could help. He had lost his own father to cancer, and also watched a close friend and mentor, Italian cycling champion Rino Gnesi, lose a battle with pancreatic cancer. As Rino's condition worsened, Kenji pushed himself to pedal and train even harder, as if riding for two. To this day, he tapes the word "forza" ("strength" in Italian) to his handlebars as inspiration, and to keep his friend's memory alive.
"My father and Rino, like me, were both passionate not only about fitness, but about the overall well-being of people. There are many fundraisers out there to help find a cure, but the day-to-day challenges of these families are often overlooked," says Kenji. "The mind, body, and soul are inherently connected, which creates a natural link between fitness and fundraising. I knew I could use fitness as a tool to help build awareness for Family Reach."
Kenji sought to tap into his own network of friends, clients, and colleagues, and encourage them to reach their fitness goals while supporting a charity. A master trainer and cycling instructor at Boston Sports Club in Lexington, he saw an opportunity to transform one of his regular weekly spin classes into a fundraiser. In December 2008, he launched the event, known as the "Holiday Spin" - a three-hour indoor cycling event offering a physically challenging and emotionally satisfying way to support families with cancer in need. Kenji's first event raised $5,000; by February of 2009, he expanded the fundraiser to include two classes full of participants, raising $8,000 altogether. On December 13, Kenji hosted his 3rd Spin Class Fundraiser, bringing in a record $22,000 for Family Reach!
In addition to the success of this event, Kenji has had an even bigger impact on Family Reach with the Reach Rider program, which he worked with Carla to create. Reach Riders are people who participate in the Holiday Spin event, but also incorporate an additional fundraising component - raising even more money for families battling cancer. Reach Riders can create their own fundraising page through Active.com, and invite friends, family, and colleagues to donate to Family Reach in support of their Holiday Spin challenge. With Kenji's help, Family Reach will launch the Reach Rider as an official program, with plans to take it nationwide over the next several years. Kenji is also working with Family Reach to expand the Holiday Spin event throughout Boston and beyond. His future vision includes friendly competitions between events at local clubs or even in different states - challenging as many people as possible to help support the Family Reach cause through his fitness-meets-fundraising approach. |
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Future Profiles
Marlblehead, MA
San Francisco, CA
Chris Lopez
Montvale, NJ
Boston, MA
Boston, MA
Oakland, NJ
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