On the surface, the Curves in downtown Oxford looks just like any other women’s fitness center.
But if you ask Sharon Heskitt, a Curves member for five years, she’ll tell you it’s so much more.
‘It’s just amazing to me the support I get there,? she said.
Back in March, Curves held a fund-raiser for Heskitt which raised $400 to help send the Oxford resident and her sons, Adam, 16, and Aaron, 12, on a 10-day mission trip to Panama in July.
The mission trip is through Lake Orion Church of Christ. Heskitt, a Registered Nurse and lay (or traditional) midwife, is heading south to provide free health care to needy folks living in remote villages inside the Panamanian rainforest.
‘I am part of a medical team that does physical assessments,? she said.
This will be Heskitt and her sons? second mission trip to Panama. Last year, she sold the family snowmobile to raise most of $3,600 for a trip in August.
‘This time I don’t have anything like that to sell,? she said. Plus, the trip’s cost has increased to $4,200 for the three of them
When she sent letters out soliciting donations, Heskitt said she never expected Curves owner Suzanne Ardelan, of Oxford, to hold a fund-raiser for her.
‘I just figured she’d toss me a twenty or something,? she said.
But Ardelan decided it was a good opportunity for Curves members to pull together and ‘help somebody within our group.?
In the past, Curves’s charitable efforts have been directed toward local groups like Oxford/Orion FISH and the Problem Pregnancy Center.
Selling approximately 40 T-shirts with little angels on them and the words ‘Curves Cares,? Ardelan’s members raised $400 for Heskitt’s trip.
‘Individually, we could make a small impact, but together, all of us, could give her a large amount,? Ardelan said.
‘I just couldn’t believe it,? Heskitt said. ‘Those people have just been so wonderful to me.?
‘I’m overwhelmed.?
For more information about missions to Panama visit www.panmission.org.
Anyone wishing to make a donation for the Heskitts? mission trip can make their check payable to Lake Orion Church of Christ and send it to 1080 Hemingway Road, Lake Orion, MI 48360. In the memo portion of the check please write ‘Panama Missions/Heskitt Family.?