Teresa Kelly & Gwen McIntyre
By: Tina Shively
Updated: August 31, 2010
These teens aren't just keeping in step with the latest dance moves, they're involved in a program started by Teresa Kelly and Gwen McIntyre. The Healthy Heroes, and busy moms, dedicated their volunteer time to helping the families at First Genesis Bptist Church get moving.
"We have a little bit more of a variety of ages and different groups of people who've come out so its been a lot of fun," said Gwen.
They started out inviting kids from their church to programs like line dancing and Walking Wednesdays, where kids do laps around the church sanctuary. Then, thanks to a grant from the Greater Rochester Health Foundation, their exercise program expanded outside the church's four walls.
"We've taken them bowling, we've taken them roller skating, all to promote physical fitness, not necessarily focusing on weight loss, but to get them moving and get them healthy. If weight loss happens, that's great but that was not the primary focus," said Gwen.
It's a program that began focusing on children, but now includes many moms and dads.
"You find a lot of parents who go out to the gym on Saturday morning to get their work out in, but when they know they're kids are out here participating in an exercise program and dancing they get out there, they enjoy," said Teresa.
Both Kelly and McIntyre say they've gained an unexpected bonus by being Healthy Heroes.
"To know that were being recognized for doing something that will help our young people, to me thats an honor," said Gwen.
"We have a little bit more of a variety of ages and different groups of people who've come out so its been a lot of fun," said Gwen.
They started out inviting kids from their church to programs like line dancing and Walking Wednesdays, where kids do laps around the church sanctuary. Then, thanks to a grant from the Greater Rochester Health Foundation, their exercise program expanded outside the church's four walls.
"We've taken them bowling, we've taken them roller skating, all to promote physical fitness, not necessarily focusing on weight loss, but to get them moving and get them healthy. If weight loss happens, that's great but that was not the primary focus," said Gwen.
It's a program that began focusing on children, but now includes many moms and dads.
"You find a lot of parents who go out to the gym on Saturday morning to get their work out in, but when they know they're kids are out here participating in an exercise program and dancing they get out there, they enjoy," said Teresa.
Both Kelly and McIntyre say they've gained an unexpected bonus by being Healthy Heroes.
"To know that were being recognized for doing something that will help our young people, to me thats an honor," said Gwen.
