LETTER: Cops Against Cancer Wellness Weekend Was a Huge Success (PHOTOS & VIDEO)

On March 3, Cops Against Cancer — — held a 12-Hour Fitness Challenge to raise money for the non-profit group. With the help of some fitness celebrities, the day was hit. Phinney recently submitted this to Ankeny Patch to let the community know how the event went.

To catch everyone up with how the Fitness Challenge went — what an amazing day!  We started at 5 a.m. the morning of March 3, and the event kicked off at 7 a.m. and went until 7 p.m. The weather was fantastic and the energy inside 2nd Wind Fitness was extremely high.

The 50 participants and six former "Biggest Loser" contestants were power house athletes. In all, we raised a little more than $6,500 for the day.    

The Wellness Weekend was ruled a huge success even before the first push up was completed Saturday morning. Following the nine assembly programs throughout Ankeny schools, the Biggest Losers were able to stand in front of 4,200-plus students to comment on how they were touched by the students.

We spent lunchtime Friday at , which was inspiring not only for the students but also for the Biggest Losers and our organization. To listen to the students share how cancer affected them, as well as their parents, relatives and friends and how it's played a role in their growing up, the students truly understood my message — cancer does not discriminate.

The Fitness Challenge was not about the money raised, but the number of families that will be touched with our assistance. In the month of February, we received 19 requests and already into March we have five requests.   The need is there as well as the need for donations.

As an organization, we have learned how difficult it is for patients and families to contact us requesting assistance during their cancer battles. But the Friday we spent at the Ankeny schools truly hit home when a student came up to my wife, Shirley, and I after one of the presentations and asked if our organization could assist his family because of a parent was battling cancer. 

This organization has made an impact in our own backyard. How can you say no to a child with such a mature, grown-up request? Assistance for the student's family is forthcoming.

We also want to thank our prime-level supporters and sponsors, including FitnessWrightNow, 2nd Wind Exercise Equipment, Dr. Michael Page and family, , KaSoma, Balance Chiropractic, , , Heather Brewer Designs, Mercy Cancer Center, Stiver’s Ford, Iowa Department of Public Health and the Benevolent Association.

Craig and Shirley Phinney, Ankeny