Fitness instructor Jan Keryluk and participants in her Gimli and Selkirk Zumba classes raised over $2,500 a few weeks ago to help support cancer patients and their families.
Keryluk, who is best known as Zumba Jan, organized an event called the Fitness Family Fundraiser in October and raised $2,535 for the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation.
“The people in both my Gimli and Selkirk classes were so generous with donating money to this cause,” said Keryluk. “It feels good that we were able to make these contributions and help people that are currently getting treatment, as well as help support the families that are going through really hard times.”
This is the first year for the Family Fitness Fundraiser, but it’s not the first time Keryluk has raised money to help support cancer patients and their families. She said she was involved with Pink at the Rink in Gimli and Relay for Life events. And the reality of cancer really hit home for her.
“The reason I did a fundraiser again this year is close to my heart; my mom has been receiving treatment for cancer,” said Keryluk.
Over 6,000 Manitoban receive a cancer diagnosis each year and it’s expected there will be a 50 per cent increase in the number of people diagnosed and living with cancer over the next decade, according to the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation’s website. The foundation raises money to bridge gaps between programs and services that may not be eligible for provincial government funding.
A 2022 report on cancer prevalence from the Canadian Cancer Society says the number of people with the disease continues to grow because of factors such as an ageing population, better cancer detection methods, more effective treatments and increased survival rates.
Keryluk, who is a licensed Zumba instructor, is dedicated to helping people get active through her regular and aqua Zumba fitness classes. She has also offered free Zumba workouts in Gimli in the summertime near the harbour and at local schools. Zumba is a cardiovascular fitness program that incorporates Latin-inspired dance routines such as salsa and samba.
Because Keryluk’s fundraiser took place at the end of October and the Barbie movie has been such a success, Keryluk said she combined those themes – “a Halloween goes Barbie pink” – to put more fun in the fundraiser. She dressed up as Weird Barbie, a supporting character from the movie.
To thank people for donating to the cause, the Lakeview Resort in Hecla donated a prize package and Keryluk herself donated a prize.
“I cannot believe how generous everybody was. The Hecla Lakeview Resort gave us a two-night stay in a king suite,” she said. “I donated a Zumba prize pack consisting of a tote bag, some sweat towels, new Zumba beauty products and a water bottle.”
Marlene Hrenchuk was the lucky winner of Lakeview’s prize while Lorraine Sigurdson took home the Zumba prize package.
For more information about Zumba classes, visit Keryluk’s Zumba Jan Facebook page.
Express Photos Courtesy Of Jan Keryluk
