Ahwatukee Adventure Boot Camp supports Foothills mother diagnosed with cancer

Ahwatukee Adventure Boot Camp director Dawn Franklin wanted to offer something a little different for Mother's Day this year, so she created a 90-minute boot camp experience that will not only benefit your mom's body and mind, but help raise money for another Ahwatukee Foothills mother of three battling cancer for the third time.

"I was trying to think of an event for Mother's Day, and I thought it would be different to take mom to boot camp," Franklin said. "I also wanted to tie it into charity. I lost my favorite aunt to ovarian cancer, so when someone told me about JoAnn I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, cancer, that really touches home for me.'"

The event, Ahwatukee Adventures Boot Camp GIVES BACK, will take place at the Ahwatukee Community Center from 8 to 9:30 a.m. May 10. The first 45 minutes will be an outdoor boot camp workout, and the second 45 minutes will be an aqua workout in the pool.

All proceeds will be donated to JoAnn Chase, 50, who was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002. In 2007 the cancer returned in her sternum. Today, the cancer has traveled to her brain, and her treatment has been narrowed to specialized gamma knife radiation.

"I'm not afraid of dying," said Chase, mother of 9-year-old Chandler, 11-year-old Cassidy and 25-year-old Candice. "But it's about my children. Kids need a mother and I'm heartbroken that they may have to go through things and I can't be there for them."

Event registration is available by visiting www.ahwatukeebootcamp.com. Anyone unable to attend, but wishes to donate, can do so by mailing donations to Susan Hyden at the Ahwatukee Community Center, 4700 E. Warner Road, Phoenix, 85044.

"Most mothers want to spend fun, quality time with their children, so what better way to accomplish that than to spend a Saturday morning exercising with mom in the great outdoors," Franklin said. "The gift of health is the gift that keeps on giving."

An additional event supporting Chase will follow Ahwatukee Adventure Boot Camp GIVES BACK at 1 p.m. at the Raven Golf Club at South Mountain. Activities will include a golf tournament, contests, auctions and a barbecue.

For more information about the golf event, call Missy Palmer at (602) 690-5492.

For more information about Ahwatukee Adventure Boot Camp GIVES BACK, contact Dawn Franklin at (623) 640-2680.