(3/2018) Last year Anytime Fitness Thurmont held its first Annual Inaugural Anytime Fitness 5K race. The day began with foreboding weather, but as soon as the runners were ready to take off, the skies cleared up. 110 runners attended last year’s 5K, and all went smoothly, minus one small mishap with a malfunctioning air horn, said Anytime Fitness owner, George Puvel. "We got the crowd all hyped up and ready to go, pressed the button on the air horn, but instead of a grand alarm as expected, the horn simply fizzed." The crowd couldn’t help but laugh though, and the rest of the event continued on smoothly.

Puvel noted that the air horn mishap was laughable and in a sense meaningful to him, because it reminded him of the type of prank his late daughter, Samantha would have played. In 2011 the Puvel family lost their nine-year-old daughter to the fight against cancer. The journey that the Puvel family went through during the nine-year battle inspired them to host an event to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Greater Washington.

The Puvels spent a lot of time at the Ronald McDonald house while their daughter was fighting cancer, and during that time they met many of these struggling families. "The Ronald McDonald House provides families with the comfort and peace of mind and allows them to unburden themselves with some stress while allowing them to focus on the care of the child," said George Puvel. It was he, and his families’ intent to do something to continue supporting this charity, further helping other families receive the comfort that they, themselves, received.

"When we were going through the fight for cancer, we were so blessed by the community. Friends and members of the community were so supportive. We knew that we wanted to find a way to give back in any way that we could." Anytime Fitness was able to raise $1,600 during last year’s 5K. Those funds were able to cover the cost of over 100 nights for families fighting children’s cancer.

This year the event will be held at the certified 5K course at Eyler Park. Once again, Steeplechasers Running Club will be managing the race, which will take place on April 28 at 9 a.m. Last year, Puvel noted the generosity of the sponsors and participants who made the event possible. Everyone involved at Anytime Fitness Thurmont hopes this year’s event will be just as successful, if not more successful! Anyone interested in participating this year, or giving back to the Ronald McDonald House, can contact Jason Blough at Anytime Fitness Thurmont, 301-895-0915.