Children's hospital fundraiser is workout; Winchendon business owner opens gym for $1,000 goal.

Byline: Gail Stanton 

WINCHENDON - Receiving a diagnosis of cancer always takes you by surprise. Like a tornado, it's not discriminatory about where it strikes and once it sweeps through, it often leaves devastation in its wake.

Ammee J. Lohnes said she is all too familiar with the destruction cancer can have upon a family, having lost both a grandparent and a parent to different forms of the disease.

"My grandmother died in 1991 from ovarian cancer, and my mom died last year from lung cancer," she said.

As a wife and mother of three children, Mrs. Lohnes said that having cancer strike her family twice has left her wondering what, if anything, she can do to keep her family safe.

"I think sometimes, what if I get it, or my family does," she said.

While most people think you can't change the future, Mrs. Lohnes said she believes you can at least try and is making a personal effort to help fund both cancer research and support those families fighting the disease.

As the owner of Curves Inc., 62A Central St., Mrs. Lohnes will host a Workout for St. Jude fundraiser Wednesday, May 21.

The goal for the one-day, 12-hour event is $1,000.

The event is open to women, age 13 and older, and all proceeds will go directly to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

It is the longstanding commitment that the St. Jude group has toward helping families fight disease that Mrs. Lohnes said drew her into doing what she hopes will help support the organization.

"They provide everything for the kids and their families; if they can't afford to pay, it doesn't matter," Mrs. Lohnes said.

St. Jude's is known for its care of children with life-threatening diseases regardless of their race, religion, creed or ability to pay.

Since the Curves workout program is designed around 30-minute circuit training sessions, fundraiser plans call for having participants on the circuit training track throughout the event. "We open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. So we'll try to have people on it for the whole day," Mrs. Lohnes said.

For those unfamiliar with Curves, members alternate between a series of cardio and strength-training exercises that are part of the company's design for achieving personal fitness and overall health goals.

Each exercise lasts for 30 seconds, and then you move on to the next exercise on the circuit.

It is this 30-second timing that makes the program doable for women - no matter what their fitness level is when they start, explained the company's owner.

The ease of circuit training is what Mrs. Lohnes is hoping will draw people to participate in the fundraiser.

"Even if you've never done it before, you can do anything for 30 seconds," she said.

Open to both nonmembers and members alike, participants are being asked to stop by the center before the event and sign up early so that they have time to collect sponsors.

At the price of only $1 per complete 30-minute session, finding sponsors shouldn't be difficult, according to Mrs. Lohnes.

People can also donate a flat rate of their choosing to the cause.

For those who participate, there will be food and drinks available and door prizes will be awarded throughout the day. Support for the fundraiser has come from numerous local businesses including Dick's Wayside Furniture, Friends Garden, Subway, To Each His Own Design and the IGA supermarket.

Family and friends are invited to take part in the activity by coming in and cheering their people on.

"It's going to be a lot of fun," Mrs. Lohnes said. "But most importantly, we can really make a difference and help those in need."

Those looking to participate or needing more information are asked to call Mrs. Lohnes at [phone].

ART: PHOTO

CUTLINE: Ammee J. Lohnes is planning a fundraiser at her Curves studio.

PHOTOG: GAIL STANTON