Zumba group helps fight IBD

By Deanna Bertrand

KINGSVILLE — When Zumba instructor Bonita Humber heard that fellow personal trainer Dante Fantin was on a mission to bring awareness and raise funds for a disease that affects him, she wanted a creative fun way to help him out.

With that in mind, she pitched her idea to other Howe Fit staff and it was the birth of a one-hour — by donation — Zumba class offered in partnership with the Kingsville gym, with all donations going to support Dante Fantin’s team “The Dookie Crew” and for the Gutsy Walk for Crohn’s and Colitis on June 5.

Dante Fantin and Bonita Humber.

“I thought it was a good way to help out a friend,” she said at the gym prior to the class on Saturday, March 26.

About 24 members and non-members of the gym filled the dance studio, ready to get their “gutsy” moves on, to popular hip-swaying, booty-shaking, Zumba music, including this year’s 2022 local Windsor Honorary Chair of the Gutsy Walk, Dante Fantin.

Fantin, now 23, grew up in the Woodslee area, and says that as early as seven-years old he remembers spending many hours in pain and having frequent bathroom trips a couple hours after meals.

“For a period in my life, it was like clockwork,” he said. “I’d eat food, and within three hours I was lying on the bathroom floor in extreme agony, just wishing for the pain to stop.”

Here, fellow Zumber instructor Tanya Fryer(foreground) moves to the beat, while class instructor Bonita Humber, left and Dante Fantin, right, participates in the class. A full story is on page 11.

SUN photo by Deanna Bertrand

It took many years — and doctor’s visits — to figure out what was causing his discomfort, which was taking time away from him enjoying many social activities.

A diagnosis came when he was 11, and he says that gave him the renewed hope and determination to live a good life and not let anything stand in his way.

Crohn’s and Colitis are autoimmune diseases that cause the body to attack itself, leading to inflammation of all or part of the gastrointestinal tract. People with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) endure abdominal pain, cramping, gas, bloating, fatigue, frequent and urgent bowel movements, internal bleeding, and unintended weight loss.

Over 300,000 Canadians are living with Crohn’s or Colitis, which does not yet have a cure, according to the Canadian Crohn’s and Colitis website.

Fantin said that a local body builder, John Almasi, inspired him to start working out.

“He was a big guy and I was a little guy, and thought it would be cool to be like that,” he said at the gym Saturday.

“One of the best courses of action I took to counter my disease was my pursuit of health and fitness. Getting active, weight training, eating right, and making a positive change to my mindset was an incredible help to monitoring and managing my symptoms” he said. “There will always be bad days, but there will always be good days.”

“If you want to feel at the top of your game, you must take care of your body and your mind,” he added.

Fantin has set a personal fundraising goal of $10,000 and a team goal of $20,000 by the Sunday, June 5 Gutsy Walk in Windsor. He was a quarter of the way to his personal goal after $500 was donated from the Zumba class.

The 5 km walk will be held in many communities across the country to raise funds and awareness for IBD research and patient programs through Crohn’s and Colitis Canada.

“This is for the future of those select few kids and adults alike, who carry themselves through life. Not knowing why they don’t feel quite right,” he said. “Things do get better, through a proper diet, and medication if needed.”

The Gutsy Walk has raised over $48 million for research and programs since 1996.

For more information on Crohn’s and Colitis, the Gutsy Walk or to make a donation go to crohnsandcolitis.ca, or gutsywalk.ca to aid Fantin in meeting his personal goal, donate to team “The Dookie Crew” in Windsor.