HANAPEPE — Zumba instructor Joriendo “Jo” Ramirez is inviting everyone to Party in Pink Friday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Hanapepe United Church of Christ Fellowship Hall. “Two of my students in the Friday Zumba class are affected
HANAPEPE — Zumba instructor Joriendo “Jo” Ramirez is inviting everyone to Party in Pink Friday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Hanapepe United Church of Christ Fellowship Hall.
“Two of my students in the Friday Zumba class are affected by breast cancer,” Ramirez said. “One is a survivor, the other just had a mastectomy recently. When I went to a convention, they encouraged me to do a Zumbathon to benefit (the fight against) breast cancer.”
The event will benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation, an organization that funds breast cancer research.
“We will give 100 percent of the donations to the breast cancer foundation,” Ramirez said. “For those who don’t Zumba, yes, we will accept donations.”
Sonita Dela Cruz is one of the students affected by breast cancer.
“I had a mastectomy done this summer,” Dela Cruz said. “I went in for my check-up and they found something small. I didn’t want to go through the whole treatment so I told them to take everything out — get it all, from the roots.”
Ramirez said in addition to Zumba, there will be prizes and other fun things to do, and participants are encouraged to come in Zumba wear.
“There has been so much support for this,” she said. “After we decided to do this, we have Zumba clubs from the Eastside and the North Shore coming to join us. I am a student of Troy Lazaro and his brother Stan, and they both said they are coming to help us. One organization, Dow Agrosciences, gave us a substantial donation.”
Ramirez said tickets are a $10 donation and available through any of the Zumba students in the weekly class, or by calling 652-0920.
“Just come ready to Party in Pink,” she said.
The Hanapepe United Church of Christ Fellowship Hall is located next to the Hanapepe Public Library.
