Published: June 21, 2008 12:07 am            

YMCA receives donation of equipment

By KANDACE MCCOY

kandace.mccoy@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Friday the 13th is not a lucky day for some. But on that day just recently, the YMCA of Jefferson County received a delivery of more than $40,000 worth of high-tech strength and cardio equipment at the Broadway location of the YMCA Fitness Center. Fifteen pieces of equipment made a new home on the second floor of the Broadway facility.

The equipment was a donation from the Maryville YMCA in the St. Louis Metro East area.

“This equipment offers a real step up for us. It is computer driven and will offer a fantastic opportunity for our members to be using the latest technology to improve their workout schedule,” YMCA director Larry Cornett said. “We will be training our staff very quickly, and they will be up and running with the new equipment very quickly.”

According to YMCA program director Brian Shaw, the new equipment will help members with the type of workout needed according to their physical attributes, such as weight and height, with “smart keys” which work like USB cards, providing information to the computer on a piece of equipment.

Some equipment will even adjust the seat to accommodate height or inform a member when to speed up with his workout in order.

And while the equipment has only been at the facility for a week, Shaw believes members will benefit greatly from the donation.

Cornett agrees. “The 15 pieces make a tremendous difference in what we are able to offer the community,” Cornett said. “We would not be able to do this without the YMCA connections we have built through the years.”

For more information about the equipment or about the YMCA, contact Cornett at 242-5345 or Shaw at 242-7500.

        

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