A healthy way to break a sweat will bring support this September to the fight against addiction.

Fitness enthusiast Michaela Parfitt-Smith launched Ride for Recovery in 2018 to celebrate her journey back from addiction and raise funds for the substance abuse intervention charity Focus Counselling Services.

Focus, which moved to “Jerry’s House” on Barry Road in St George’s two years ago, offers a private location for those in need of help, including a supportive residency.

Along with treating adolescents, Focus is the only treatment centre offering outpatient treatment services for women as well as men, and residential treatment – known as supportive living.

In January, it reported an urgent 60 per cent shortfall in funds.

Ms Parfitt-Smith has stepped in with a pledge to raise $45,000 for Focus to gain some energy independence with solar panels, through sessions of “spinning for solar”.

It comes with the support of Streaker’s Spin Studio, upstairs from Beast Gym, on Dundonald Street in Hamilton.

“I’m excited to say we’ve already secured $15,000 from Ark Bermuda insurance and underwriting,” she said.

Spin classes, which feature stationary bikes, are popular team pursuits, with many of the spaces in the first of three classes on September 27 already bought up by a company keen to raise money for the cause.

The three slots, with 25 bikes for each class of roughly 40 minutes, are on 5.30pm, 6.45pm and 8pm — at $25 per bike.

“It’s great for team-building and it’s fun,” Ms Parfitt-Smith said. “The main lights are out, the music is awesome, the instructors are fun, and it lets you get inside your own head and challenge yourself.

“It’s all about getting your own vibe, and you don’t have to keep looking over at the next person.”

She launched Ride for Recovery in the aftermath of her own recovery from addiction.

“It’s been my passion project since I turned my life around from drugs, after spending 13 years, almost my entire young adult life, in active addiction because of childhood abuse,” Ms Parfitt-Smith said.

“Physical activity and fitness are vital principles for recovery.”

Streakers have been “extremely supportive” since the launch of the fundraiser, coinciding with September as Recovery Month.

Ms Parfitt-Smith is also airing the first of a series of public talks next Tuesday at 1pm via the TNN news service on Facebook, featuring round table discussions on addiction and recovery.

Bringing together experts on the topic, the sessions start with “Youth and Young People in Recovery”, followed by “Equal Access and Inclusion” on September 9, “The Whole Person Approach to Wellness” on September 16, and “Peer Support” on September 23.

The candid talks are supported by the National Drug Control department, Focus, the Women’s Resource Centre and Masc Counselling — sponsored by Ms Parfitt-Smith’s free women’s support group EmPower Me Bermuda.

She said it was all part of “my contributions to the community — to change it for the better”.

• To sign up for Ride for Recovery, call 532-7746 or e-mail ride@streakersspin.com