The Zumba Jam Dance-Off was held Friday Night at the Depot Civic and Cultural Center ballroom and Donnetta Jackson Alexander was chosen as the winner during the Christmas Under the Stars competition.
Alexander is a member of local gym Fitness Evolution, the host of the event. Gym owner Minerva McCutchen stated that although no one was the “last person standing,” Alexander was very deserving. There were approximately 20 participants in the contest.
“We chose Donnetta because she is always pushing herself,” said McCutchen. “I could see it in her face that she wanted to stop, her face was turning white, but she didn’t stop. She deserves it.”
Alexander won the $75 prize and stated that she pushes herself to do better to make a better life for herself. Alexander is a pharmacy tech at Live Oak Pharmacy and stated that she has come a long way from her past.
“On January 21st, I will be celebrating my 21st anniversary of being drug free,” said Alexander. “My drug of choice was crack cocaine. I was able to overcome it because I had my share of the justice system, and I decided I was getting too old for that. My children were getting older and I didn’t want them to think that kind of life was okay.”
She explained that faith in God also helped get her through the hard times stating, “It’s through the grace of God that I’m clean and sober.”
Alexander stated that she didn’t go through a 12 step program and she believes that the credit needs to be given to God. Her struggles in life were hard, but she hopes through sharing her testimony that others may see that it is possible to change their lives, to be clean and sober.
