Organized by MaryHope Gardner and Fallon Morris, Valley Regional High School's first Zumbathon is on Thursday, March 7 (snow date Thursday, March 14). All proceeds will be donated to the Deep River Congregational Church Backpack Program, which provides enough food to last the weekend for elementary students in need.

Two sessions are offered-

5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and 6:45 to

7:45 p.m. The fee for one session is $8, or $12 for both. Each session is led by Valley Regional's own certified Zumba instructor, Coach Ginny Mislick, and will be held in the Valley Regional High School gymnasium.

Gardner and Morris proposed and planned the Zumbathon for their Civics in Action project, and are hopeful that it will become an annual event. The Zumbathon event of 2013 shows promise as an exciting way to help others and bring the community together.

Those who wish to participate but do not attend Valley Regional High School should email Mislick for registration and waiver forms at vmislick@vrhs.com.

Morgan Hines is a senior at Valley Regional High School.

Photo courtesy of Ginny Mislick