Wellness expo to raise funds for eye research

On Saturday, April 14, there’s no excuse for not working out.

That’s when the Wisconsin Wellness Expo is hosting a three-hour Zumba marathon, walkathon and fitness challenge to raise money for the UW Eye Research Institute, known as ERI.

Jimmy Tormey, a longtime employee of the Division of Recreational Sports, recently went on medical retirement due to retinitis pigmentosa, an eye disease that causes blindness.

“Jimmy is now preparing for a life transition without his sight by taking courses to develop new skills, and the decision to identify ERI as the beneficiary of the fundraising this year was easy,” says Lori Devine, fitness director for the Division of Recreational Sports.

The expo, open to the public, is scheduled for Saturday, April 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Southeast Recreational Facility, commonly known as SERF. Free parking is available in lot 91 during the event, and free handouts include T-shirts and reusable shopping bags.

The expo’s fund raising events for ERI include the Zumba marathon, which will feature the popular Latin dance-based workout, and a Walk for Sight, with a walk on the SERF indoor track. Participants may also help raise money through a Fitness Challenge, where they can compete to win prizes by doing such activities as indoor rowing and bodyweight exercises.

Sponsored by the Visitor and Information Program and the Division of Recreational Sports, the Wisconsin Wellness Program has blossomed into a variety of wellness-related activities held around the campus and community throughout the year, Devine says.

“The Wellness Campaign Expo is the highlight of the program, where vendors and organizations that promote health and wellness can showcase their products and services,” Devine says.