HCC students and staff participate in Cycle United

Students and staff from Hagerstown Community College recently participated in the 2nd Annual Cycle United, an eight-hour indoor spinning event sponsored by the United Way of Washington County.

Cycle United was held on Feb. 11 at the Valley Mall in Hagerstown. Local gyms including South Pointe Fitness Center, Studio 6, Gold’s Gym, YMCA Hagerstown, Ruff Fitness, Fit In Boonsboro, and the Fitness Center at Hagerstown Community College donated instructors and spin bikes to the event, which was held as a fundraiser for United Way.

Over 80 novice and experienced indoor cyclists participated in Cycle United including six HCC faculty and staff members and one HCC student. The HCC spinning team included biology and chemistry associate professor Bernard Murphy, of Hagerstown; physical education instructor and Fitness Center coordinator of Thomas Burge, of Martinsburg, W.Va.; disabilities support services advisor Katie Dyke, of Shepherdstown, W.Va.; human resources specialist Rosie Oberholzer, of Waynesboro, Pa.; and Fitness Center staff member Tony Clement and chemistry associate professor Nancy Thorpe, both of Williamsport. Student team members included Rachel Herrera and Jamie Yingling, both of Hagerstown. This year’s event raised more than $45,000.

“In its second year, Cycle United surpassed last year’s success by leaps and bounds,” says Burge, who helped coordinate the HCC team for this year’s event. “This event is so important because it not only promotes physical activity and a healthy lifestyle, but it also raises money for a great cause within our own community. If you didn’t get a chance to cycle this year, you should definitely check it out in 2013.”

To learn more about United Way of Washington County, go to www.unitedwaywashcounty.org [1].