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<p>PLAINS TWP. &#8212; More than 260 participants climbed on exercise bikes and pedaled to raise money for two causes Saturday at Danko&#8217;s Fitness Center.</p><p>The 15th annual Spin 4 Life benefited Candy&#8217;s Place, a Center for Cancer Wellness, and the Brandon J. Case Memorial Scholarship at King&#8217;s College.</p><p>Candy&#8217;s Place is a hub for those diagnosed with cancer, along with their caregivers. It offers innovative services, such as yoga, Reiki, massage therapy, personal training and education. The scholarship fund is in memory of an area man who lost his battle with cancer at age 21.</p><p>Among the participants at Saturday&#8217;s event were many cancer survivors.</p><p><strong>&#8216;Part of family&#8217;</strong></p><p>Kathleen Williams, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and is now cancer free, was among those who took a spot on a bike.</p><p>&#8220;When I was going through treatment, my surgeon encouraged me to find this place,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Now I feel like I&#8217;m a part of the family.&#8221;</p><p>Indeed as she made her way through the facility after spinning, she took time to greet friends she had made at the center and those who were simply taking an opportunity to raise money for the two causes.</p><p>Almost everyone, she said, has been affected by cancer either personally or through a relationship with someone who has battled the disease.</p><p>Williams said her outlook from the beginning was a proactive one.</p><p>&#8220;I just thought it was something that I needed to get through,&#8221; said Williams, who had a double mastectomy. &#8220;And now I&#8217;m through it.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Remembering Candy</strong></p><p>Penny Cunningham helped found Candy&#8217;s Place in memory of Candice Vincent-Mamary, her sister who passed away from lung cancer in 1998. She said both the event and the center provided an opportunity for patients and their families to be proactive and positive about a diagnosis that affects many.</p><p>What would Candy be doing if she was at the event?</p><p>&#8220;First of all she would be on top of a bike, probably all day,&#8221; Cunningham said. &#8220;She loved physical fitness.&#8221;</p><p>It was Vincent-Mamary&#8217;s wish that even after her death, she could make a difference, by providing comfort and support to others struggling with cancer.</p><p>Saturday&#8217;s event helped make that continuing effort possible.</p><p><strong>Spinning for Brandon</strong></p><p>Case&#8217;s stepfather, Paul Zbiek, has been a fixture at the annual event. He spins one hour for each year Case would have been alive if not for cancer. That meant he was on the bike for 37 hours this year, starting at 6:30 a.m. Friday.</p><p>Brandon&#8217;s mother, Donna, said participation was a labor of love for her husband.</p><p>&#8220;My husband is the athlete,&#8221; she said, smiling. &#8220;If Brandon was here, he probably would be making new friends and socializing with other participants.&#8221;</p><p>Both Cunningham and Zbiek say their families share a focus on wellness and support for those struggling with cancer.</p><p>Organizers anticipated the event would exceed last year&#8217;s total of $11,000 raised.</p><p>Those wanting more information about Candy&#8217;s Place can call 570-714-8800 or access the website at www. cancerwellnessnepa.org.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Paul Zbiek, right, acknowledges a round of applause as he spins for hours during the annual Spin 4 Life Saturday at Danko&#8217;s All American Fitness in Plains Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_spinforlife01-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Paul Zbiek, right, acknowledges a round of applause as he spins for hours during the annual Spin 4 Life Saturday at Danko&#8217;s All American Fitness in Plains Township. </caption0><photoCredit0>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_spinforlife02-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Participants spin at Danko&#8217;s All American Fitness in Plains Township on Saturday during the annual Spin 4 Life. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_spinforlife02-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Participants spin at Danko&#8217;s All American Fitness in Plains Township on Saturday during the annual Spin 4 Life. </caption1><photoCredit1>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLggibbons.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Spin 4 Life raises funds for Candy’s Place, Brandon J. Case Scholarship