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Wheels set to spin for charity

They’ve been planning all year to fill their school hall for 12 hours with 400 sweaty people on bikes.
spinathon
JN Burnett students participate in a spin-a-thon to raise money for diabetes research. Photo Submitted

They’ve been planning all year to fill their school hall for 12 hours with 400 sweaty people on bikes.

And, with just over a month to go, the small 70-strong army of JN Burnett secondary students behind the 2014 Cyclebetes Spin-A-Thon event is gearing up for one final assault on its target.

The students have managed to sign up around 200 students thus far for the annual diabetes research fundraiser and have already raised in excess of $2,500.

But they need the help of the community between now and the May 30/31 event if they’re to reach their 400-participant and $5,000 goals. “If we get between 300 and 400 involved, then that would be great,” said Cynthia Wu, the Grade 11 president of the JN Burnett Cyclebetes team.

The 12-hour Spin-A-Thon involves teams of ten taking turns to cycle on stationary bikes for six hours a day, two days in a row. Entry per person is $15. All proceeds go towards the Juvenile Diabetic Research Foundation.

During the event, there will be food, refreshments, speakers and a variety of performances by local dance companies.

Those wanting to help with sponsorship of the event or interested in taking part, can go to www.jnbcyclebetes.webs.com.

The Spin-A-Thon takes place Friday, May 30, from 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturday, May 31, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cyclebetes started when a man named Kyle Balagno promised his daughter he would find a cure for her type-1 diabetes before she turned 18. He only had 6 years. This promise gave birth to Team H2V, a cycling team of five men who cycled across Canada in just eight days, setting a Guinness world record.