Bellevue's luluemon athletica raises $28,000 for therapy organization

Bellevue's lululemon athletica, located in Bellevue Square, partnered with Pushing Boundaries during the month of February to successfully raise more than $28,000 for the nonprofit. The Walk A Mile In My Shoes marked the largest contribution the Bellevue lululemon has made to a local charity at one time.

The idea behind the month-long fundraiser was to create a movement challenge in conjunction with offering fitness classes to spread the word about being active and Pushing Boundaries.

Pushing Boundaries is located in Redmond and provides intensive exercise therapy to people who are paralyzed from neurological illness, injury or other neurological disorders.

Throughout February, community participants tracked mileage by walking, running, hiking and snow shoeing. Contestants shared their goals and involvement in the challenge with others in the community, reaching out to gain match donations for each mile finished. In all, 158 people participated in Walk A Mile In My Shoes and traveled 2,383 miles during the challenge.

Ben Lovelace won the February mileage challenge tracking 131 miles. Kaye Cole was the winner of the most donations, collecting $5,620.

A Walk a Mile in My Shoes Facebook fan page was created and reached more than 500 fans and the lululemon athletica Ambassadors created a calendar of opportunities to gain and track daily mileage.

The challenge concluded with Move Me, a day-long event celebrating movement. Move Me included Yoga, Pilates, fitness and goal setting classes along with testimonials and involvement of Pushing Boundaries clientele and staff. All proceeds from the Walk A Mile In My Shoes challenge went to support the exercise therapy programs provided by Pushing Boundaries to people living with paralysis.

Lindsay Larin can be reached at 425-453-4602.

Comment on this story.