(Stamford, CT, February 1, 2011) ….. Participants in the 12th Annual SPINODYSSEY for breast cancer research may get tired during the six-hour indoor cycling and fitness fundraiser, but they won’t go hungry! Fairway Market in Stamford is contributing fresh food and organic produce as well as breakfast and lunch to hundreds of local indoor cyclists, Zumba enthusiasts, tennis players, and other fitness fanatics who will raise a good sweat-and more importantly, raise funds in support of American Cancer Society breast cancer research and Norwalk Hospital’s Whittingham Cancer Center breast cancer research trials.  SPINODYSSEY 2011 takes place Sunday, March 6th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Intensity Fitness & Tennis Club, 490 Westport Avenue, in Norwalk.

As the official SPINODYSSEY food sponsor, Fairway will provide muffins, yogurt, bagels, smoothies, wraps, salads, water, sandwiches, and lots of fresh fruit to the 600 participants and 125 volunteers at Intensity.

To make sure all SPINODYSSEY participants start their day off right, Fairway will serve breakfast at 7:30 a.m., followed by a full lunch at noon. Sliced bananas, cut-up oranges, and apples will also be served to participants throughout the event.  At the end of the day, each SPINODYSSEY participant will leave with a special edition, re-usable Fairway shopping bag filled with goodies from Fairway and other event sponsors.

In addition to providing food, Fairway Market has launched a “Receipts for Research” campaign that makes it easy for its Stamford store customers to support the cause.  From February 1 to March 5, shoppers are urged to save their Fairway receipts and bring or mail them to SPINODYSSEY or participating collections sites.  Fairway will then donate 5% of all the receipt values directly to the American Cancer Society breast cancer researchers.

“We are so proud to be a major sponsor of SPINODYSSEY 2011, and to be able to support the event, its participants, and, most importantly, the fight against breast cancer, with our unique resources,” said Amy Weisman, Vice President of Sterling Investment Partners in Westport, which is an equity partner of Fairway Market. “We are delighted to be back for a second year, and look forward to continuing to increase our involvement in the local community through this and other worthy causes.”

“SPINODYSSEY depends upon the generosity of sponsors like Fairway, whose contribution of food is essential to fueling our volunteers and participants while allowing us to keep costs down so that all monies raised go to the cause of funding research to put an end to breast cancer,” said SPINODYSSEY co-chair Patty Kondub.  “On behalf of SPINODYSSEY and all breast cancer survivors, I offer our deepest thanks to Fairway for its amazing support.”

“Without a doubt, Fairway’s involvement in SPINODYSSEY has added tremendously to the event,” added SPINODYSSEY co-chair Terri Polley.  “Fairway’s donations of food, goody bags, and funds through its ‘Receipts to Research’ campaign are greatly appreciated by all of us who participate in this day of fun and fitness out of our shared desire to see the day when breast cancer is a thing of the past.”

Fairway Market —one of New York City’s most lauded and beloved food emporiums for more than 75 years—opened its Stamford store at 699 Canal Street, part of the Harbor Point Project, Exit 7 (Atlantic Street) off of I-95 (behind the train station) in November 20l0.  It is the market’s first store in Connecticut.  When Fairway locates to a new city, it seeks to become involved in that community through charitable endeavors.  According to Ms. Weisman, SPINODYSSEY’s focus on rallying residents of Fairfield County around the shared goal of eradicating breast cancer made it a perfect fit with Fairway’s desire to become part of the community, rather than just another business.

“The event that SPINODYSSEY co-chairs Patty Kondub and Terri Polley and their team have created is simply inspirational,” said Weisman. “They have raised more than $2.5 million for breast cancer research since their first ride in 2000, and now have the longest running and biggest Spinning fundraiser in the country.  Add to that the fact that the event remains 100% volunteer-run, with 100% of pledges raised donated to the American Cancer Society, and their accomplishments become all the more remarkable.”

To appeal to a wider range of fitness enthusiasts, SPINODYSSEY 2011 has added hourly Zumba, Tennis, Body Pump & Give It Up Fitness with Herman sessions to its lineup of activities.  To accommodate the ever-growing number of SPINODYSSEY participants, for the first time ever, the 2011 event will feature a satellite location—Studio M Dance & Fitness, 112 Main Street, Norwalk—which will host four hours of high-energy Zumba.

About SPINODYSSEY
SPINODYSSEY 2011 is 100% volunteer-run by people who are breast cancer survivors, indoor cycling and fitness instructors and students, and their families and friends. SPINODYSSEY is an event of Charity Treks Inc., 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.  SPINODYSSEY has raised $2.5 million since its first charity Spin ride on January 1, 2000.  The next annual indoor Spinning®, Tennis, ZUMBA and Fitness event is planned for Sunday March 6, 2011 at the INTENSITY Club in Norwalk, which is co-owned by Clair Mason and Mike Marcus of Westport. 
For more information log on to www.spinodyssey.org
or call Patty Kondub, SPINODYSSEY Chair, at 203-362-5231.

About Fairway Market
Fairway was founded in the 1930s by Nathan Glickberg as a fruit and vegetable store in Manhattan and is now a growing New York grocery chain with an expertise in specialty foods. It is also one of the nation’s highest grossing food retailers per square foot. Sterling Investment Partners took control of the company four years ago. Today there are seven locations in the tri-state area employing more than 3,500 people, as well as 2 Fairway wine & spirit super stores.  Two new Fairway Markets are scheduled to open in 2011, one in Manhattan and one in Queens. Specialty Food Magazine recently named Fairway one of the country's six Outstanding Specialty Food Retailers for the Specialty Food Trade. In May 2008, the grocer was named Consumer Deal of the Year by M&A Magazine. Fairway was also listed on Inc.'s top 5000 fastest private growing companies for 2008, 2009, and 2010. www.fairwaymarket.com

2/1/2011 • FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Chris Klimek, Media Relations Contact • SPINODYSSEY • (203) 984-6108

J. McLaughlin Store of Westport to Host “SIP n SHOP” Party
To Benefit SPINODYSSEY 2011

Westport, CT, February 1, 2011…..J. McLaughlin, the classic men’s and women’s clothing store known for its bold colors and signature prints, will treat customers to refreshments and the good feeling that comes with supporting a good cause by hosting a Sip and Shop party at its new Westport location on 1026 Post Road East.  From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, February 12, the store will donate 15% of all purchases to SPINODYSSEY, the local, 100% volunteer-run organization that helps fund American Cancer Society breast cancer research.

“J. McLaughlin’s Sip and Shop event is a great way for Westporters and our neighbors to come together in a relaxed atmosphere, enjoy light refreshments, and make a purchase or two for an outstanding cause, namely, funding research that will help put an end to breast cancer,” stated SPINODYSSEY co-chair and Westport resident Patty Kondub. “We thank J. McLaughlin for generously hosting this event.”

About SPINODYSSEY
SPINODYSSEY 2011 is 100% volunteer-run by people who are breast cancer survivors, indoor
cycling and fitness instructors and students, and their families and friends. SPINODYSSEY is an event of Charity Treks Inc., 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.  SPINODYSSEY has raised $2.5 million since its first charity Spin ride on January 1, 2000.  The next annual indoor Spinning®, Tennis, ZUMBA and Fitness event is planned for Sunday March 6, 2011 at the INTENSITY Club in Norwalk, which is co-owned by Clair Mason and Mike Marcus of Westport. 
For more information log on to www.spinodyssey.org or call Patty Kondub,
SPINODYSSEY Chair, at 203-362-5231.

SPINODYSSEY 2011 Donates $10,638 in Support of Norwalk Hospital's Whittingham Cancer Center Breast Cancer Research



SPINODYSSEY 2011 recently donated $12,000 raised during its Third Annual Wine Tasting and Silent auction event to representatives of Norwalk Hospital's Whittingham Cancer Center to help fund its breast cancer research trials.  Participating in the check presentation were (l. to. r.) Susan Ludwig, Special Events Manager, Norwalk Hospital Foundation; Mary Heery, Breast Health Specialist, Smilow Breast Health Center; Patty Kondub, Co-Chair, SPINODYSSEY 2011; Richard Zelkowitz, M.D.Hematology and Oncology, Norwalk Medical Group; Mariann Van Zanten, member of the SPINODYSSEY 2011 Wine Tasting and Silent Auction planning committee and the Westport/Weston YMCA SPINODYSSEY spin team; Linda Versea, Administrative Manager, Norwalk Hospital Cancer Services; Jennifer Long, Clinical Research Coordinator, Norwalk Hospital Cancer Services; and Rita Ort, Oncology clinical Resident Specialist, Norwalk Hospital Cancer Research.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Chris Klimek • SPINODYSSEY 2011 Committee

(Norwalk, CT, November 18, 2010) . . . . . Although SPINODYSSEY 2011 officially takes place on March 6, its volunteers and donors are already contributing to local efforts to put an end to the disease.  Earlier this week, SPINODYSSEY volunteers presented Norwalk Hospital's Whittingham Cancer Center with $10,638 to help fund breast cancer research trials.  The monies were raised at the November 6th SPINODYSSEY Wine Tasting and Silent Auction Fundraiser organized by members of the Westport/Weston YMCA SPINODYSSEY spin team.

"On behalf of Whittingham Cancer Center and its Smilow Breast Health Center, I am would like to thank SPINODYSSEY and all its volunteers and donors for this generous contribution to our breast cancer research," said Jennifer Long, APRN, Oncology Research Coordinator. "It will go a long way toward helping us conduct clinical trials that are crucial to developing new drugs to help improve survival and hopefully, one day, eradicate this cancer."

"SPINODYSSEY 2011 has truly grown from a one-day fun and fitness event to a year-round effort to fund trials, studies and research needed to put an end to this disease," noted Patty Kondub, Westport resident and Co-Chair of SPINODYSSEY 2011.  "We owe our ability to support local research efforts to the many wonderful SPINODYSSEY participants, volunteers, and contributors who give so selflessly to this cause each year."

Westport resident Mariann Van Zanten, a member of the event planning committee and a cancer survivor, added "Whittingham Cancer Center is a tremendous resource for local cancer patients, and I am so pleased that the community has provided such an outpouring of support for its work to find a cure.  Many thanks are owed to all of the individuals and organizations that contributed to the success of this SPINODYSSEY fundraiser."

The Wine Tasting and Silent Auction event featured an array of fine vintages from Fat Cat’s renowned wine cellar, including a number of “food-friendly” wines and the hors d’oeuvres that complement them.  Silent auction prizes included spa packages, restaurant gift certificates and other items and services generously donated by local businesses.

In addition to Ms. Kondub and Ms. Van Zanten, the Wine Tasting Committee volunteers included Westport residents Michele Lamothe, Donna Renzulli, and Laurie Gray.

The donation of $10,638 represents SPINODYSSEY's initial contribution from the wine tasting fundraiser.  Event organizers expect that, as additional promised donations continue to come in, the final total donated to Whittingham will total approximately $12,000.

Registration for SPINODYSSEY 2011, the organization's "centerpiece" event, began earlier this month. This annual indoor Spinning®, Tennis, ZUMBA and Fitness event, will take place Sunday March 6, 2011 at the Intensity Fitness & Tennis Club in Norwalk, which is co-owned by Clair Mason and Mike Marcus of Westport.  For more information log on to www.SPINODYSSEY.org or call Patty Kondub, SPINODYSSEY Co-Chair, at 203-362-5231.  SPINODYSSEY 2011 is now on Twitter and Facebook.

About SPINODYSSEY
SPINODYSSEY is 100% volunteer-run by people who are breast cancer survivors, indoor cycling and fitness instructors and students, and their families and friends. SPINODYSSEY  is an event of Charity Treks Inc., 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.  SPINODYSSEY has raised $2.5 million since its first charity Spin ride on January 1, 2000.