Castor Gardens residents learn to get fit together

CEFN takes its health and fitness message to the Northeast
PHILADELPHIA,PA-Northeast Philadelphians got one step closer to healthier living this
weekend by attending the Community Enrichment Fitness Network’s (CEFN) first annual
Focus on Fitness Community Day at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church at 1268 Robbins Ave. The
health and fitness event on Saturday, Oct. 2 featured guests from CEFN’s TV show “Focus on
Fitness.” The TV show guests had healthy food and exercise demonstrations. There was also
live entertainment from the R&B band the Expressions of Soul, performances by saxophonist
Kenny Sykes and DJ Howard Cuppitt.
The purpose of the event was two-folds: To increase awareness of CEFN’s TV show, which airs
on Comcast cable channels 66/966 and Verizon Fios 29/30, and to recognize CEFN’s production
team and program guests.
Sherry Hill, CEFN founder and executive director, said she was very pleased with being able
to publicly thank the public access TV station, PhillyCAM and Temple University interns for
the outstanding job they are doing with producing, directing, editing and writing “Focus on
Fitness.”
Although the event was not widely publicized, attendees still had a great time participating in
activities such as Gospel line dancing, Zumba (an exercise routine that’s a combination of Latin
dances), kickboxing and chair exercises. Temple University’s Women’s Volleyball Team took
center stage participating in the Gospel line dancing demonstration. After working up a sweat
from the day’s activities attendees not only had the opportunity to have some healthy snacks
such as green smoothies and apple pizza, but they were instructed on how to easily prepare them
at home.
“I had a great time at this event. I had a fantastic workout and received some great healthy
recipes on how to make green smoothies, confetti black bean salad and apple pizza,” said one
event attendee.
In addition to bringing the health and fitness message to the community, the event celebrated
the past three seasons of “Focus on Fitness.” Hill honored season one through three director
David Ricks III, former video editor Tara Andrews and other members of the CEFN team.
Former director and Temple alumnus Ricks said, “Working with CEFN has been nothing
short of an awesome experience. The organization gave me the opportunity to take the fitness
show by the horns and really have a solid input on the day to day shooting and editing.”
Philadelphia’s former health czar Gwen Foster also attended the event. She discussed how she
had collaborated with the “Focus on Fitness” TV program. Her health and fitness plan the 40
Day Journey was featured for the entire second season of the show.
CEFN is currently working on seasons four and five of “Focus on Fitness.” The second annual
Focus on Fitness Community Day is tentatively set for June 2011.
More information: For more on CEFN and their health and fitness show “Focus on Fitness”
visit www.cefn.org or call 215-858-4957.The show airs on Comcast Cable channels 66/966 and
Verizon FIOS channels 29/30.

From the Community Enrichment Fitness Network:

Holy Spirit Evangelical Church in Castor Gardens hosted the Focus on Fitness Community Day Saturday to help Northeast residents get healthy together. The health and fitness event, sponsored by the Community Enrichment Fitness Network, featured guests from CEFN’s TV show Focus on Fitness. The TV show guests had healthy food and exercise demonstrations. There was also live entertainment from the R&B band the Expressions of Soul, and performances by saxophonist Kenny Sykes and DJ Howard Cuppitt.

The purpose of the event was two-fold: To increase awareness of CEFN’s TV show, which airs on Comcast cable channels 66 and 966 and Verizon Fios channels 29 and 30, and to recognize CEFN’s production team and program guests. Sherry Hill, CEFN founder and executive director, said she was very pleased with being able to publicly thank the public access TV station, PhillyCAM and Temple University interns for the outstanding job they are doing with producing, directing, editing and writing Focus on Fitness.

Although the event was not widely publicized, attendees still had a great time participating in activities like Gospel line dancing, Zumba (an exercise routine that’s a combination of Latin dances), kickboxing and chair exercises. Temple University’s Women’s Volleyball Team took center stage participating in the Gospel line dancing demonstration. After working up a sweat from the day’s activities, attendees not only had the opportunity to have some healthy snacks like green smoothies and apple pizza, but they were also instructed on how to easily prepare them at home.

The second annual Focus on Fitness Community Day is tentatively set for June 2011.

— Submitted by the Community Enrichment Fitness Network

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