Zumba really made a splash at Marine Park!
The Zumba Flash Mob for breast cancer awareness at the Carmine Community Center on Oct. 4 became a splash mob when the fitness fanatics took their workout outside in the rain. The women — all donning pink, the color for breast cancer awareness — shimmied to the Colombian-style aerobics in the rain and one local said the rain symbolized the fresh start every breast cancer survivor deserves.
“Coming together, even though it was raining, you just had this energy among us,” said Flora Iannarelli, who has been a Zumba addict for two years. “It is something that motivates you — mind, body, and soul.”
The nearly 90-minute sweat session was being filmed for the Net TV program, “Active Catholics,” a show documenting Catholics working out. But the spotlight was on the breast cancers survivors sprinkled in the sea of pink — squatting, singing, and swaying to upbeat music with the rest of the pack.
One of the Zumba instructors said the disease affects men and women of all ages and the event was a way to show solidarity with the survivors.
“It is something that affects everyone,” said Daniella Cipriano, who added that both of her grandmothers battled breast cancer. “Everyone knows someone who has it.”
At the end of the day, the wet-and-wild event was really about paying tribute to the survivors, said an organizer of the zany Zumba bash.
“This is the power of these wacky Zumba events,” said Joe Gillette, who is involved with the American Cancer Society. “This is meant to be awareness.”
