Kelsi Bissonnette (left), owner of the Breathe Studio in Osoyoos, leads a spin class on the morning on Tuesday, May 22. Bissonnette, along with seven other members of the Breathe Studio, will be taking part in the first-ever 1000 Calorie Spin Ride for charity this weekend in order to raise funds for the “Create a Star” program – a local junior golf program aimed at giving a golf student the opportunity to experience life on a professional golf tour in Spain for six weeks. Photo by Mathew White.

This Saturday, nine members from the Breathe Studio in Osoyoos will spend about two hours raising funds by logging dozens of kilometres on their bikes … all without moving an inch.
The first-ever 1,000 Calorie Spin Ride for Charity is taking place Saturday, May 26 from 10 a.m. to noon in front of the Breath Studio at 15 Park Place, with 100 per cent of the proceeds being donated to the “Create a Star” program.
“This is my way of giving back,” said Kelsi Bissonnette, owner of Breathe Studio.
The “Create a Star” program was started in 2011 by Wayne and Sandra Hachey with the Desert Golf Academy.
The goal of the program is to offer a young, local golf student the opportunity to experience life on a professional golf tour in Spain for six weeks.
Last year, David Montreuil of Osoyoos was selected as the inaugural recipient.
“It gives a young, inspiring golfer the opportunity to see the golf industry and what it takes to run a tour and whatnot,” said Bissonnette. “And because I don’t have the means to be a corporate sponsor, I thought I’d do this charity ride.”
Bissonnette said she chose this particular program because she too is an avid golfer and she knows the positivity it can bring to one’s life.
“There are a lot of charities and there are a lot of worthy people who need help … (but) I believe in the power of sports for children, to keep them out of trouble and the sport of golf is a very good sport for kids because it teaches discipline,” said Bissonnette.
Besides the funds being raised for the “Create a Star” program, Bissonnette said this ride also gives eight of her studio members the chance to do some good and burn 1,000 calories at the same time.
Bissonnette said she hopes to raise about $1,000 through pledges and donations.
Pledges can be as little as a penny a calorie, which ends up coming to $10.
Donations will also be accepted on Saturday during the ride. There will also be raffle prizes available to the public.
“If you come down, throw a Lonnie into the bucket, or not, it’s just to bring exposure to some of the amenities in this town,” said Bissonnette.
Anyone interested in donating or pledging beforehand can contact Bissonnette at 250-535-0510 or visit www.osoyoospilates.com.