The walls of Harmony Fire Company will be filled with cheers, music and a bit of sweat as the Mullica Hill community dances for Kara Thompson, owner of Fit to Dance studio.
The fundraiser will run from noon until around 3 p.m. on April 7, with the Zumba dance portion ending around 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased by visiting www.EventBrite.com and searching “Kara’s Fight,” or in-person, however, it’s recommended in advance due to space limitations at the fire hall. Following Zumba will be a lunch buffet and raffle prizes.
“She’s going to see how much the community is there to support her and she’ll be able to see that everyone is here to support her,” said event organizer and Fit To Dance teacher Lisa Stephan. “It will bring women together, and they will make friends. It’s one of the best and most fulfilling fundraisers I’ve done.”
Stephan added Thompson was diagnosed with melanoma cancer in 2018 and she wanted to help offset the cost of Thompson’s treatments since she’s been unable to work at the studio.
“She’s connected to all of the businesses in town and she’s very close to the owners,” said Stephan. “Everyone has come together and [so far] donated around 50 basket donations.”
Thompson has been the co-owner of Fit to Dance Studio since its start in 2011 with her sister-in-law Megan Thompson. There, while also managing the business, she teaches adult fitness classes and student dance lessons.
Stephan said she chose Zumba as the main event because most are familiar with the fitness program and it’s something anyone can participate in, unlike a beef and beer event, which is difficult to execute in Mullica Hill – only Naples has a liquor license for a bar and there’s one liquor store within town limits.
“People are using this as their first opportunity to try [Zumba],” said Stephan.
For those wishing to attend, Stephan said it’s highly recommended to wear comfortable gym attire (shorts, workout leggings, loose T-shirts, sneakers, etc.) and bring a water bottle.
“Zumba is a Latin dance type of fitness,” said Stephan. “It’s a dance and people are laughing and having fun with one another. It gets a lot of women into exercise because they don’t realize that they’re exercising while also having fun and dancing.”
Stephan said she hopes to raise anywhere from $4,000 to $6,000 for Thompson, and the stress of organizing this event is worth it “because I know her treatments are off-the-wall expensive, and the community has a big atmosphere around it.”
She added people should make an effort to attend the event not only to raise money for Thompson, but to also meet others who are battling, or have beat, cancer.
“There are a lot of women in the community who have struggled with cancer in the community and they’re able to get together and talk about their experience,” said Stephan. “It’s for women to get together and talk about their cancer journey with one another.”
For those wondering about parking issues due to the Raccoon Creek bridge repair, Stephan said Harmony has a large gravel parking lot and limited spots may be available at Fit to Dance, across the street. Additionally, she said firemen will be out assisting with parking in that area.
Stephan has set up a GofundMe for Thompson for those who cannot make the event. To date, the campaign has raised roughly $1,300. It can be found by going to www.GofundMe.com, and searching “Kara’s Fight.”
