More News

By burning calories at her gym, Vinita Tanasovich is also earning them. And that's a good thing for the Manna Food Center.

Anytime Fitness in Kensington has adorned certain treadmills, elliptical machines and stationary bicycles with gossamer purple ribbons to signify that every mile put on the machines by members will be ten cents the gym will donate to the Manna Food Center for canned food items for the holidays. The gym will keep track until Nov. 22, and then use the money to buy food for Manna.

"We thought, hey, this is a nice way for the members to feel like they're doing something for themselves but also giving back to the community," said Ken Leonardo of Kensington, who co-owns the gym.

The gym ran a similar promotion in August for the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation and members logged nearly 2,000 miles in just a few weeks, Leonardo said.

"It does seem pretty astonishing," he admitted. "Some of the people here on average they can be on a treadmill for 20 or 30 minutes and if they're doing a seven-minute mile that's a couple miles."

The gym, which opened in July, is also open 24 hours, so Leonardo said miles can be logged around the clock. Also, members don't have to run a full mile for the distance to add to the total.

Tanasovich said the fundraiser for Manna brought her in to the gym to run on a ribboned treadmill instead of outside on Friday for her daily five mile run.

"I normally run outside a lot because I have dogs—I come in for classes—but in August I knew they were doing the cancer promotion so I would come in here," said Tanasovich, of Kensington.

Kathy Zmuda said the promotion doesn't really push her to run more than she would otherwise, but she does try to use the designated machines.

"Sometimes they put it on the bike, on the bicycle, and when I get on the bicycle I usually go like 8 miles," Zmuda said. "I think it's good and you know, I enjoy being there. So it's kind of nice that what we put on there, at least some of it, is going to charity."

The gym has been raising other money too, giving $25 of membership fees to local schools, including Kensington Parkwood Elementary School, North Bethesda Middle School and Garrett Park Elementary School. Leonardo said it's all part of the effort to establish his as a gym for the community.

Kevin Reed of Kensington said that spirit is something he appreciates.

"Local people giving back to the local community, I think that's what it's all about," Reed said.

And so far, the workout incentive is working for him, too.

"Does it make me want to go a couple more minutes on the elliptical? Sure if I know it's for a good cause," Reed said Friday. "I was tired today and did an extra 10 minutes."