MANHATTAN — Spin class enthusiasts at Asphalt Green are kicking into high gear this weekend to help out the recreation center's promising young swimmers.
The first-ever "Spin for the Future" charity event will take over the 24 bikes installed at the Yorkville fitness hub in January to benefit Asphalt Green's Swim for the Future Scholarship Fund, which was created in memory of Andrew Fisher and Doug Irgang, both veteran swimmers at the center who died in the World Trade Center attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
They belonged to Asphalt Green's "Masters swimmers" adult competitive swim team.
Fisher, who worked as director of sales for Imagine Software was presenting at a conference at the World Trade Center on 9/11. Irgang worked for the boutique investment banking firm Sandler O'Neill at the World Trade Center.
Since their families and supporters started the fund 10 years ago to support young city swimmers who need financial support, more than 143 scholarships — costing $3,600 each — have been awarded to members of the AGUA — Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics — swim team. Six recipients qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials.
"My whole life has changed because of swimming at Asphalt Green," David Diaz, a Swim for the Future Scholar, said in the program's 2011 yearbook. "Other people around me make negative choices: drinking and drugging, in and out of jail ... Swimming keeps me from doing things that are counterproductive.”
Spinners are being asked to contribute a $10 donation at three classes on Saturday and two classes on Sunday to go to the swim fund.
"We are one community," said Nancy Belli, Asphalt Green's fitness director. "This is way for us to give to the swimmers. Not everyone uses the pool. There are land-bound people. But we are still building awareness for the bigger community and supporting those in need."
Asphalt Green's spin studio is at the AquaCenter, 1750 York Ave. at East 91st Street, fourth floor. A $10 donation will go to the Swim for the Future Scholarship Fund for Super Spin classes on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. or on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. No reservation required. Call 212.869.8890 ext. 2252 for more information.
