The second Zumbathon for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society event took place Sunday at the Longbranch Saloon in Raleigh from 2:30 to 7 p.m.

“The event will allow participants to help themselves by exercising and celebrating their own health while supporting a great cause,” said Alicia Betancourt, one of the event organizers and a Zumba instructor.

Betancourt completed her Master’s in textile apparel technology management from N.C. State in 2008.

According to Betancourt, the cause has raised more than $1,200 in donations and 130 participants attended the event Sunday.  

“Zumba is a Latin-inspired, high-energy fitness workout,” Betancourt said.

Participants completed two, one-hour sessions of Zumba during the fundraiser event.

Betancourt had nine additional instructors join her on stage throughout the course of the event. 

Seven instructors performed their own selected songs and choreography in 15-minute rotations.

Betancourt said she thought hosting the event would help spread awareness of the fight against blood-cell cancer to a greater number of people.

“My goal was to get the community involved as much as possible,” Betancourt said.

Betancourt said 12 entrepreneurs and businesses were represented as vendors at this year’s event.

The Longbranch Saloon also offered its main dance floor at no cost.

Players and cheerleaders from the Triangle Nighthawks, a semi-pro football team, helped with welcoming the participants, ticket sales and setting up decorations for the event.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to curing leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma.  

The group also strives to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

To help with community fundraising efforts, the society created a campaign in the United States called the Man or Woman of the Year.

According to Betancourt, there are currently 19 candidates in the Triangle area of North Carolina.  

Each candidate receives a 10-week period of time to raise as much money as possible to win the title.

Betancourt said she was disappointed when she could not attend a friend’s fundraiser that benefited the Man or Woman of the Year campaign in 2012.

“I asked her if I could do anything. Most people would have just made the financial donation and be done with it, but something resonated in my spirit about the cause,” Betancourt said.

She said  “I couldn’t really tell you why it was so important for me to help, but I ended up deciding to plan a Zumbathon party with 6 weeks left before the end of the 10-week fundraising competition was over.”

The first Zumbathon hosted by SpyRaleigh was called “Party Yourself into Shape” and it raised $550 for the society with about 85-100 attendees.

Betancourt has set a goal of $5,000 for 2013 to support the campaign of Sesha Gaston, one of the area’s local candidates.

She said she met Gaston last year and the two have become close friends since Betancourt decided to partner with her campaign.

Betancourt said she recently found out two of her relatives died from lymphoma and leukemia.

“So in essence my heart and spirit knew that this was a cause to contribute to before I even realized I had a reason,” Betancourt said.

Those who are interested in donating to the cause have until May 4.