D & D Fitness Factory Presents Lift for Life and 5K Walk/Run Road Race

WARE — D & D Fitness Factory, a co-ed training facility in Ware, invites the community to its annual Lift for Life and 5K Walk/Run Road Race, held on Sunday, April 29, in memory of family member Donna Goudreau. The proceeds will benefit the 13th annual Walk of Champions, supporting the Baystate Regional Cancer Program at Baystate Mary Lane in Ware. The 2018 Walk of Champions held annually at the Quabbin Reservoir is set for Sunday, May 6.

The co-ed lifting competition has five men’s weight classes and two women’s classes, which include a bench press, axle bar lift, and truck pull. The 5K Road Race features four co-ed age groups: students age 19 and under, ages 20-35, ages 36-50, and ages 51 and up, and prizes are awarded to the top finishers in each category. 

D & D Fitness owner Darryl Goudreau, his wife, Janine, joined by their family and friends, sponsor the annual event. “Cancer has touched our lives in a very personal way,” he said. “The cancer care Donna received locally through the Baystate Regional Cancer Program in Ware was important to Donna and our family during her cancer journey. This year, we are proud to help support the expansion of the cancer program in Ware.”

The expansion of the oncology unit will be done in two phases to minimize disruption for patients and staff. Phase one is the renovation and expansion of four new exam rooms, and phase two will be the conversion of the existing exam rooms into infusion bays. The first phase of the project is slated for completion by May, and will also include a new nurses station, a centralized medication room, and an exclusive discharge area, with phase two of the project expected to be complete by the end of summer.

“Even if you’re not participating in the weight challenges or 5K, we invite our community members to join us to cheer the runners and powerlifters on,” said Goudreau. “The comradery is contagious, and the friendly competition is inspiring to watch.”

The morning-long event includes raffles and refreshments. For more information or to participate in the Lift for Life and 5K Road Race, call D & D Fitness Factory, located at 40 East Main St., Ware, at (413) 967-6018. For more information about the Walk of Champions, visit www.baystatehealth.org/woc.