Four Seasons sponsors ‘Dead Musicians Ride’ for Charity

Last month, Four Seasons Fitness Studio at 32-34 Lake St. hosted a special Spinning (indoor cycling) event as a fund raiser for two local charities. This event, known as the “The Dead Musicians Ride,” was suggested by long-time studio member Phil Wiles as a way to raise money for Tioga County charities.

The Dead Musicians Ride was designed to involve studio members in the event planning. Members were asked to suggest song titles by musicians and singers who had passed away; the Spinning instructors then created new “rides” (profiles) to the suggested music.  

All participants were given the opportunity to vote for one of two charities: Tioga County Rural Ministry or Maddie’s Meadows. The vote was tied, so each charity received $285, half of the total raised by the generous Four Seasons members. 

Over the years, Four Seasons has held a variety of fundraising events, both to raise money and to collect items such as canned food and personal hygiene items to be donated to national and local charitable organizations. 

In October 2012, the previous owner of Four Seasons (Valerie Gundrum) passed away from kidney cancer. Two special Spinning events were held to raise money and thousands of dollars were donated to the Kidney Cancer Association in Valerie’s memory.  

Since those events, the studio has held two events yearly – the “Planksgiving Challenge” in the fall to gather food for Tioga County Rural Ministry (TCRM), and a spring Fitness Challenge to gather items for the Soap for Hope Campaign for TCRM. 

Four Seasons Fitness Studio, originally Aerobics Central, has been at the Lake Street location for over 25 years. Owners and instructors Barbara Patten and Cassandra Thompson are committed to keeping Owego healthy by providing a wide variety of challenging fitness opportunities, and by hosting events to raise awareness of, and support for organizations serving the community in many different ways.