By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

PELHAM—The Pelham community got their groove on during an Aug. 9 Zumbathon for the Pelham Panthers youth football and cheerleading programs.

Popular music played from the speakers at Pelham’s youth football field as parents, community members, youth football players and cheerleaders alike got together at Pelham City Park for a day of fun, face painting, shopping from local vendors and, of course, Zumba.

“This Zumbathon is to help promote the 2014 youth football and cheerleading programs,” event organizer, Zumba instructor and fourth grade Panthers cheerleading squad coach Martina Winston said. “We wanted to get Pelham moving, that’s what its all about. We want to get the parents out there, girls out there and boys out there.”

A continuous and fun Zumba workout was led by certified instructors on the Pelham City Park youth football field.

Zumba is a popular workout that combines music and dance moves, and is “for anybody,” Winston said. Admission to the event was free for those 12 and under and $10 for anyone else. All proceeds were donated to the Pelham Panthers youth football and cheerleading programs for “anything they might need,” Winston explained.

“Martina really took the ball and ran with it,” Pelham Parks and Recreation Director Billy Crandall said of the first ever Zumbathon event.

But Winston insisted the success of the Zumbathon was really a community project.

“It’s all a community and family type event,” Winston said, noting the positive community response to the event. “It’s been great, fliers have been all over the community.”

Current and past youth football players and cheerleaders and their families attended the Aug. 9 Zumbathon, along with local vendors such as the Lakeview United Methodist Church and Tangled Designs, offering Pelham Panthers-themed décor.

“If it wasn’t for our parents and our community, this wouldn’t happen,” Winston said.