Youth Organization Getting Ready to Pedal

A local Christian youth organization is gearing up for its first-ever Spinathon Fundraiser and a Burr Ridge gym is donating staff time and the use of its facilities for the event. The Hinsdale South Young Life Spinathon Fundraiser will take place at the Five Seasons Sports Club, 6901 S. Madison St., on April 16.

The Spinathon will consist of six, 50-minute spin classes with 20 participants per class and will run throughout the morning of the event. Supporters can participate by riding one class, riding all six classes for a “Century Ride” of 100 miles or by sponsoring a rider.

“I’m hoping more parents become interested and more involved,” said Emily Cain, a fitness instructor at Five Seasons and chairwoman of the Hinsdale South Young Life committee. “And the money we raise is going to be icing on the cake. We’re really doing it for the awareness [of Hinsdale South Young Life].”

Money raised will go in large part towards annual weeklong summer trips the faith-based Christian organization takes with the kids they mentor each summer, said Mark Dunning, Hinsdale South Young Life director of field ministry.

“Our goal is to use mentoring,” said Dunning. “It’s the relationships that we have and not necessarily who comes out to our programming that we’re so concerned about.” Adding that the organization works with more than 80,000 high school students to help them with relationships, decision making and to discover the best version of themselves.

Liz Thompson, a parent of two teens that participate in Hinsdale South Young Life, is a member of the organization’s volunteer committee and is putting together a team of 20 to join her during the Spinathon.

“There are not enough organizations, in my opinion, where kids know they can come and have a good time without peer pressure,” said Thompson. “It’s just good, clean fun.”

“I think it’s important for kids to know that there is a place that they can be themselves without the pressures that sometimes go along with being a teenager,” she said.

Brian Myers, fitness director at Five Seasons Sports Club, said the Spinathon is the first of a series of fundraisers the club plans to host over the next couple years. The sports club looks for ways to give back to the community and it has a large junior development program in tennis and fitness, he said.

The club’s biggest tennis program targets about 300 players in the area, ages nine to 16, said Myers.

“Anything we can do to put back into the community, especially around the children and young teens, it’s always a win-win,” said Myers.

All participants in the Hinsdale South Young Life Spinathon Fundraiser will be given passes to enjoy all the other amenities at Five Seasons Sports Club for the remainder of the day.

To sign up for the Spinathon download a registration form online at Hinsdale South Young Life’s website, or call or visit Five Seasons Sports Club.