There wasn't any walking at the AIDS Walk for Life, and the organizers couldn't be happier.
ANKORS scrapped the walk in lieu of six classes people could pay to attend during the 22nd annual AIDS Walk for Life at Lakeside Park on Saturday.
Instructors were on hand to teach zumba, CrossFit, pilates, yoga, bellyfit, hoola and hooping, with money going to a fund that supports people living with HIV and AIDS in the West Kootenay region.
Cheryl Dowden, ANKORS' executive director, said the event's originality was meant to draw in new participants.
"It's been great and I think it's attracted lots of folks in the community who maybe haven't attended the event in the past, which is one of the things we wanted to do is to reach out and connect with some of the other members of our community," said Dowden.
Dowden said that the ANKORS' summer student suggested the event re-focus on health and wellness.
She's happy with how the idea developed, and thinks the event will only get bigger as the organization tries to re-energize the community's focus on finding a cure for the disease.
"We also want to make this day available for folks who use our services," said Dowden.
"So people were able to come and pay for a class, or get a wristband and do multiple classes, but if people couldn't afford it they could come and get a massage or do a class and that was fine with us."