For just the price of a cup of coffee, you could sponsor a child – who will then lift 220 pounds of steel off his chest in the name of fighting breast cancer.
And you thought we were about to go all infomercial on you there.
In honor of those with the strength to battle cancer, Merrimack Valley student Hunter Darling is hitting the gym to raise money and awareness for the disease, creating a Benchathon for his senior project.
Participants will seek pledges from the community before completing one repetition at their maximum weight on the bench press during the event March 16 in the gym at Merrimack Valley High School (the time is tentatively set for 11 a.m.)
It’s the kind of fitness-based humanitarianism that makes Richard Simmons put on his hot pants in the morning.
“Cancer has affected me,” Darling, who has watched family members and close friends battle the disease, said. “I just want to raise money and spread awareness.”
There are many thons we personally find overrated. Marathons, for instance, raise the question of how one can deem oneself clinically sane while voluntarily running more than 26 miles. But a benchathon is a revolutionary idea, hatched when Darling spent some time talking with his father, a former strength training competitor, this summer.
Darling was training for football season and was kicking around potential senior project possibilities with his dad when they settled on the idea.
“It just kind of came to me,” Darling said. “My dad was talking about some kind of liftathon, and I was thinking, I love to bench; that’s my favorite exercise to do. And my dad kind of helped me sort out the details.”
Some details were easy, like tracking down potential participants. Darling said the majority of the MV football team will likely take part, and though he hasn’t finalized the list, he expects around 25 people to lift the bar when the time comes.
Other details required a little more effort, like getting the word out to potential sponsors. But he had help not only from his family but also some local businesses, like American Body Building Supplements on South Main Street, which displayed Darling’s fliers and donated a couple dozen custom-made T-shirts to the cause.
Darling handed most of his remaining pledge sheets out during school vacation week, though a few more were still being circulated. Those interested in learning more should call him at 848-2604.
The day will feature a bench starting at a certain weight, and the weight will increase over time. That way people can perform their maximum weight whenever they feel most comfortable, Darling said, while those looking to build to a higher weight can sneak in a handful of warm-up reps.
“If you want to get to 225, you’d want to do six reps at 135, then one at 185 before you do 225,” Darling said. “To get to your highest weight you kind of need a little bit of strategy. You don’t want to burn yourself out, but you need your muscles warmed up.”
Spotters will be on hand throughout the competition to ensure safety, and spectators are encouraged to attend. There is no charge to get in the door, and the afternoon will feature a bake sale and raffles, including a 50-50 raffle.
For Darling, the opportunity to raise money and awareness for a cause that means a lot to him made for a perfect project, and he’s hoping the final pieces fall into place as he expects them to.
“It feels great. I’m really excited about it,” Darling said. “I hope it pans out as good as I’m picturing it and maybe even better.”
