Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council receptionist Cathy Watts has stepped out of her traditional culture zone to make a statement for health and fitness.
On Wednesday afternoon, Watts took her place on the B.C. Heart & Stroke Foundation Big Bike Ride, along with 28 women from the local Curves gym. The Ride headquarters was set up in the parking lot of the Buy Low store on Johnston Road.
“I joined Curves in February. I decided I wanted to get healthy,” Watts said. “My brother-in-law, Ray Seitcher Jr., was recovering from heart surgery, so I decided to fundraise.”
For the past seven years, Curves has put together a team for the annual Big Bike Ride, and Watts said it seemed like a good fundraising option.
“I found out if I raised over $50, I could join the Big Bike Ride,” she said.
With $109, collected mainly from NTC co-workers, Watts earned a spot on the 30-seat cycle. But first, she had to dance.
While Watts is used to taking part in traditional dances, the Dangerous Curves, broken into three separate squads, each performed a vigorous aerobic step-dance to an up-beat pop-music track, prior to mounting the Big Bike. Watts appeared to take it all in stride.
“Curves isn’t like those gyms where everybody lifts weights. We move. And it works – I’m really feeling the results.”
At 4:30 p.m., the Dangerous Curves headed out on a designated route through North Port.
“This is the 21st year for the Big Bike Ride. Our goal is to raise $1.4 million in six weeks,” B.C. Heart & Stroke Foundation special events coordinator Jami Christie said. “This year, we’ll spend 18 days travelling across Vancouver Island.”
This year, the Dangerous Curves raised $4,635, for a cumulative total of more than $32,000 over the past seven years.
Following the ride, Watts was presented with a red T-shirt for those members who exceeded $100 in contributions.
“That was a workout,” she said, when the Big Bike came to a stop.
