Cycle Against Cancer – Zen & Now, Old Saybrook

Zen and Now Wellness Studio is a small, but vibrant studio in Niantic that offers a great selection of the hottest fitness trends.  Yoga, spinning, TRX, bootcamp – if it’s effective and fun, you can find it at Zen and Now. But more than just a great place to work out, Zen and Now is a family. Led by lifetime Niantic resident Lisa Bragaw, Zen and Now is a community invested in helping others and making the world a better place.  So when CSF was looking for another host for the Cycle Against Cancer, we thought that Zen and Now would be a great place. We were right.

The Cycle Against Cancer Zen and Now was held on July 30, 2016 at Zen and Now Wellness Studio in Niantic.  It was led by a small, but enthusiastic Steering Committee of Lisa Bragaw, Caitlin Chapin, and Terri Eickel.  Meeting regularly, these three women secured sponsorships, raffle items, and recruited team captains. The team captains for the Cycle Against Cancer Zen and Now were incredible, with every captain leading their team over the $1,000 goal!  Our fabulous team captains were Erika Ellis, Lise Alaimo, Stacy Sankow, Lisa Bragaw, Mary DeVizia, Caitlin Chapin, Terri Eickel, and Debbie Kane. Big congrats went out to our top three fundraisers – Lisa Bragaw, Jeff Snider, and Sara Heffernan, as well as our top team, Spinnin’ and Grinnin.’  Fantastic job!

A fun teacup raffle was a huge hit, raising almost $1,000 with raffle baskets filled with great items from dozens of local businesses.  Niantic and the rest of the Shoreline are incredibly giving and compassionate and it definitely showed!

The fundraising goal for the Cycle Against Cancer Zen and Now was $15,000, but these remarkable riders crushed that goal, raising $20,003 to benefit Connecticut cancer patients, especially our little Ambassador, Meadow.  Meadow is a three year-old from Waterford who is fighting acute myeloid leukemia. Because of the Cycle Against Cancer, CSF was able to give her a larger grant than we can typically give out, plus we will be able to continue to help other CT cancer patients and their families as they fight this terrible disease.

Special thanks to our sponsors – Zen And Now Wellness Studios, The Day Publishing Company, and WFSB, From You Flowers, Café Sol, Simply Pharmacy, Geico Waterford, and Chelsea Groton Bank – they are all incredible!  Without generous support from our sponsors, raffle donors, and spinners, we could not financially assist all the cancer patients that we help here in Connecticut.

Thank you for all that you do to help cancer patients in Connecticut