Local Jazzercisers participated in a worldwide fundraiser for Back in the Swing USA, a grassroots nonprofit cancer survivor organization. Local Jazzercise franchisee and instructor Peg Brom dedicated a morning Memorial Day Jazzercise class at both her Glen Ellyn and Naperville studios to benefit the cancer nonprofit.

“My goal to raise $1,500 between my two facilities has already been exceeded, with donations still coming in,” Brom said.  Due to studio size, participants were limited to 45 in each location and asked for a minimum $10 donation.  “My group of participants has always been extremely generous so I’m not surprised that these classes sold out in a matter of days, with the majority of participants donating more than the minimum,” she added. 

During National Fitness and Sports Month in May, Jazzercise, a leading dance fitness program with a network of 7,800 instructors worldwide, held many special fundraising classes like Brom’s, with proceeds aiding Back in the Swing USA.  This nonprofit is dedicated to providing awareness, access and financial support for breast cancer survivorship programs and academic medical research in the field of breast cancer survivorship.

“We have many breast cancer survivors in our Jazzercise classes and a few who are currently in mid-battle,” Brom explained. “In addition to the funds raised for the Back in The Swing group, I hope that our survivors and fighters will  feel the outpouring of support we have for them.”  

Jazzercise not only sponsored worldwide fundraisers, but was part of a recent study at the Breast Cancer Survivorship Center at the University of Kansas Cancer Center that strongly indicated the importance of exercise for breast cancer survivors. The results of this study will be presented at the June 17 Biennial Cancer Survivorship Research Conference, sponsored by The National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, Livestrong and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.   

For more information about local Jazzercise, visit www.jazzercise.com; for more information about “Back in the Swing USA,”  visit www.backintheswing.org.