The Eagle-Tribune
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — If North Andover’s firefighters live long lives because of their increased physical fitness, they may have two young children to thank: Cadence Roberts, 11, and her sister Allie, 8.
The Roberts sisters spent much of the spring and summer selling lemonade, with proceeds going toward a treadmill for the firefighters’ gym. Several of their friends joined the effort.
Cadence, a sixth-grader at North Andover Middle School, and Allie, a third-grader at Sargent Elementary, presented the Fire Department with a check for $730 last week.
The idea of raising money for a treadmill began several months ago, when Allie and the girls’ mother, Lisa Roberts, toured the new Central Fire Station at Chickering Road (Route 125) and Osgood Street.
When firefighter Neil Patnaude showed them the fitness room on the second floor, Lisa Roberts noticed what to her was a glaring omission.
“Where is the treadmill?” she asked.
With that, she and her daughters got to work. They began the lemonade stand fundraiser April 24. As news of their quest spread, people from the community began to contribute.
Chaz Lietz donated a treadmill that was installed at the Central Fire Station. They hope to acquire another treadmill, which will be placed at Station 2 on Salem Street, according to fire Chief William McCarthy.
The chief said frequent exercising is not only effective for staying in good physical condition — it also relieves stress.
The firefighters’ gym at the main station is now stocked with dumbbells, barbells, a weightlifting bench and a stair-climbing machine — besides the treadmill. Much of the equipment has been donated.
“This was a special one because these girls worked hard,” McCarthy said of the donation from Cadence and Allie.
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