Richard Simmons brought his lively spirit to campus Wednesday as he led an 80’s- inspired fitness class in the Fieldhouse. The event was the result of a fundraising effort to support the underprivileged women in Pepperdine’s prenatal research development.
Senior Meridith McConnell coordinator of the event along with her assistant coordinator junior Meghan Burks organized the event to raise money for pregnant women who donate their medical histories to a clinic in Oxnard which are later analyzed by researchers at Pepperdine. Researchers use the histories to gain insight into how to make a baby healthy even before it is born.
McConnell has been working with Dr. Cooker Perkins in the prenatal research department of the Sports Medicine Division. In the past Perkins has done fundraisers for the women they have worked with in return for their medical information. The women are typically low-income Hispanic women who go to the free clinic for their pregnancy testing.
McConnell had attended a few of Richard Simmons’ exercise classes past spring and decided that his enthusiasm and energy would be perfect to put on an exercise class coupled with a fundraiser.
“He’samazing because he’s so high energy but also because he’s so charitable McConnell said.
The event was open both to students and to the Malibu community. McConnell explained that Simmons was so giving that he decided to do the fundraiser for free.
After working up a sweat with the crowd, Simmons brought the group together for a heart-felt discussion about his personal battle with his self-image as a teen, and the importance of being healthy.
[The event] had three purposes: one to raise money; two to encourage people to be more physically active and three to have fun McConnell said.
