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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The annual Renal Race is set to kick off for the sixth time on Sunday, but on Saturday, a few exercise enthusiasts got together to raise some last-minute money to donate to the event.</p><p>Elite Spine And Sports PT held a charity work-out class to help raise money for the Renal Race.</p><p>According to Jack Digwood, 43, of Mountain Top, owner of Elite Spine And Sports PT, the inspiration to hold the class came from Erin Rebo-Pikul, a member of the fitness center, who is the founder of the Renal Race.</p><p>&#8220;People here love Erin; they really gravitate to her,&#8221; Digwood said. &#8220;So we had this class to help give to her.&#8221;</p><p>Rebo-Pikul started the Renal Race after her husband, Frank, was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2011, according to the Renal Race&#8217;s <a href="http://therenalrace.org/therenalrace/" target="_blank">website</a>. While Frank overcame his illness, Rebo-Pikul continues the race.</p><p>&#8220;What a character, to give back, even after their family is out of the woods,&#8221; Digwood said to the class.</p><p>Attendees had to make a $10 donation to the Renal Race in order to participate in the class. Between the 20 people who took the class and Elite Spine And Sports PT&#8217;s commitment to match the donation, the work-out class raised a total of $400 for the Renal Race.</p><p>Michael Callagy, 27, of Wilkes-Barre, was one of the staffers at Elite who helped instruct the class. Callagy explained that the class&#8217;s focus on moving weights at a fast pace was meant to help burn fat faster than just running.</p><p>&#8220;Because you can run for long distances, running can actually cause you to store fat for energy,&#8221; Callagy said. &#8220;By moving weights quickly, you&#8217;re building muscle, and muscle burns calories faster.&#8221;</p><p>The class&#8217;s instructors split the 20 attendees into smaller groups, moving them from station to station to perform different activities. Exercises ranged from kettlebell swinging to heavy rope training.</p><p>Callagy said this rapid switching between various metabolic exercises was to force the class&#8217;s bodies to adapt to new situations.</p><p>&#8220;The human body is the coolest machine ever invented,&#8221; Callagy said. &#8220;You can adapt to a lot of situations.&#8221;</p><p>Dennis Wildes, 35, of Wilkes-Barre Township, said that taking the class helped accomplish two things for the day.</p><p>&#8220;I got to support the community, and I got a work-out in,&#8221; Wildes said. &#8220;I&#8217;d say that&#8217;s a win-win.&#8221;</p><p>Wildes was getting one last work-out session in before Sunday&#8217;s Renal Race, which is actually his first 5K race.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m excited for the race, but I&#8217;m not so excited about the weather,&#8221; Wildes said.</p><p><ins>For other local news stories, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/category/local" target="_blank">click here</a>.</ins></p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Dustin Hobbs powers through a rope exercise during the Renal Race charity workout at Elite Spine and Sports in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL031217renalrace1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Dustin Hobbs powers through a rope exercise during the Renal Race charity workout at Elite Spine and Sports in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL031217renalrace2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Trainer Michael Callagy leads an exercise at a weight station during the Renal Race charity workout at Elite Spine and Sports in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL031217renalrace2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Trainer Michael Callagy leads an exercise at a weight station during the Renal Race charity workout at Elite Spine and Sports in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL031217renalrace3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Lisa Percevault looks at her husband Scott as he does a breathing exercise to conclude the Renal Race charity workout at Elite Spine and Sports in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL031217renalrace3.jpg</photo2><caption2>Lisa Percevault looks at her husband Scott as he does a breathing exercise to conclude the Renal Race charity workout at Elite Spine and Sports in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. </caption2><photoCredit2>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Patrick Kernan</p><p>pkernan@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Patrick Kernan at 570-991-6119.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Charity exercise class benefits Sunday’s Renal Race