This past weekend, I had the fantastic opportunity of working with the local group of Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. This year is their 10th anniversary walk, and our club was fortunate to be chosen as the location for their basic training and boot camp for the Washington, DC area.
The DC organization had a day of activities planned, including a practice walk on a gorgeous spring-like day, group exercise classes, registration for the walk and informational sessions. The coordinator requested a nutrition clinic, which is how I got involved.
During the afternoon, sandwiched between Yoga and Zumba, I spoke to about 40 enthusiastic participants. I wanted to cover several areas of interest in 45 minutes. I started with some information about sports nutrition, fueling for workouts and endurance events and body hydration. Then we moved on to general healthy eating, and I closed with how diet can contribute to disease prevention.
It was a very personal experience for me because many of my relatives, including both my parents, died from cancer, and I had just learned that another family member was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I found that the emotional bonding amongst everyone involved with the walk was extraordinary. Whether someone was currently suffering with a diagnosis, or was a friend or relative, or worked for the organization, each one was warm and inclusive. Just amazing!
My reason for blogging about this is that we as health club owners, managers and employees are appropriately concerned about developing our business and providing services to our members on a fee basis. But there are times when we have to stop and consider how we can help the community in other ways. We are members and good citizens of our neighborhoods and communities and as such must remember we have other roles to play.
I felt honored to be a part of the educational process for the men and women who have dedicated their free time to fight for this cause. I felt proud to host many of the 140 or more people who attended the event throughout the day and who got to see our beautiful club at the time. Do we hope that some will join the club and tell others about it? Sure! But more importantly, we provided a valuable service on a day that many people will not forget.
I hope that every club has the opportunity to give something to a worthy cause, especially in health and wellness. Although many members look to us when they want to lose weight, get in shape for special events, or get strong and fit for good health, we may also fulfill even greater purposes. Get inspired!
Judith Samuels, M.A. is a certified nutrition and wellness consultant and master personal trainer at Sport&Health Clubs in the Washington D.C. Metro Area. She can be reached via e-mail at judi@judisamuels.com.
