College program opts to do some heavy lifting
Article content
The Algonquin College Police Foundations Program is launching a new fundraising event, as a way of supporting their Relay for Life team.
The Lift for the Cure debuts Wednesday, April 17 from 1:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Algonquin College Student Commons, an event which will involve both weightlifting for funds and special weightlifting demonstrations by some of the Ottawa Valley's most dedicated and strongest power lifters.
Dan Labelle, the program's head, said this is a project of the graduating class to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society.
"We used to do the Run for the Future," he said, adding that with the new campus, they decided to try something different, now that they have a venue for it.
Those taking part in the event will have to lift weights to raise money, at five cents a pound. This can be lifted all at once, or done multiple times. There will be dumbbells, a curl bar and heavier weights available for this event.
Labelle said people dropping by to check it out and who donate have the option of lifting the weights themselves, or selecting a participant to do it for them.
There will also be power lifting demonstrations by top competitors Kendra Cross, Jacob Begin and Justin Spencer.
Begin is the co-owner and head coach of Kanama High Performance North who is responsible for the success of a number of up and coming local lifters who are starting to make a splash on the provincial scene. In addition to coaching, Begin is a strong lifter himself, and will be competing at the Toronto weightlifting championships in June.
Spencer is co-owner of Kanama High Performance North, where he carries out his training and helps coach the growing roster of Ottawa Valley lifters. He's been a medallist nationally and has won multiple Ontario championships in Olympic-style weightlifting. Spencer's next competition is at the 2013 national championships in May.
Cross was introduced to Crossfit in late 2008 and hasn't looked back. She is the owner and coach of Crossfit Poise, which after three years has added a second location. Cross has qualified for the third consecutive year in the Canada East CrossFit Regionals where the fittest in eastern Canada are put to the test. She says she looks forward to adding Olympic lifting meets to her list in the near future.
For further information, contact Professor Dan Labelle at 613-735-4700, ext. 2874.
Stephen Uhler is a Daily Observer multimedia journalist