DANCE TO SAVE OUR STRAYS: A section of the 200-strong crowd dancing along to Ding (centre stage) and fellow Zumba instructors at yesterday’s Zumbathon.
KUCHING: Hills shopping mall came alive with the sound of music as 200 Zumba enthusiasts rocked and danced to Pitbull’s ‘Don’t stop The Party’, kicking off the 90-minute Zumbathon to save our strays yesterday.
It is the city’s first ever and biggest Zumba Fitness charity event for this year, and was a sold out reception as all 200 tickets were snapped up.
A spokesperson said people were still inquiring about the tickets at the time of the event and that they will look into making it a bigger event next year.
Organisers announced that they raised a sum of RM6,500 from ticket sales and donations, all of which will go to Save Our Strays (SOS) Kuching to fund their programmes.
Zumbathon was initiated by certified Zumba fitness instructor Ding Tiew Seoh or as she is known, Zin Dingy. Unprepared for the arrival of a stray puppy, she reached out for help and received assistance from SOS Kuching.
Dingy adopted the puppy, now a cherished member of the family, and decided to repay the kindness by raising awareness as well as funds for SOS Kuching.
The Zumbathon was led by a team of seven of the city’s finest Zumba fitness instructors and three guest instructors from Sabah, who led the crowd in a vigorous cardio workout with easy-to-follow moves grounded in hypnotic beats of Cumbria, Sultry Salsa, groovy Reggae and Pop. The event was sponsored by Hills Shopping Mall management, The Gym Box, Benta Mewah Sdn Bhd and DPI Printing.
The organisers would also like to thank Exhilarate Fitness Studio, Kim Bay HK Macau Restaurant, 100Yen Kuching, Indulgence Reflexology and Wellness Sdn Bhd, Pets Moments, Amazing Pets, Just Pets and other sponsors for their contribution.
SOS Kuching is a collaboration of NGOs and individuals dedicated to working towards a caring society that embraces animal rights and animal welfare.
They work closely with NGOs such as Sarawak Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA), Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB), 4PAWS and Malaysia Independent Animal Rescue (MIAR).
SOS programmes are targeted towards generating awareness and education in fostering humane methods to control the population of strays such as mass spaying and the fostering or adoption of strays.
Those interested to get involved by volunteering support in the form of financial assistance, time or opening up their homes to foster strays can contact SOS Kuching via its Facebook page at‘SOS Save Our Strays – Kuching’.