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Health, money and food raised through weight loss challenge
By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI
An Austintown Community Group hosted its last meeting on Feb. 11 at Austintown Elementary School to celebrate the group’s weight loss as part of the Community Transformation Challenge.
Lynn Mickey, founder and motivator of the Community Transformation Challenge, partnered up with Kate Kollar, certified health and fitness expert and public figure mentor, to reach out and inspire as many people as possible.
The Community Transformation Challenge was a 13-week experience with weekly weigh-ins, prizes, monthly motivational meetings and grand prize cash incentives for those who finished in the top three spots. There were 34 participants in the challenge who worked together to transform their bodies or maintain the comfort they have with their bodies.
Several community members helped the Community Transformation Challenge become successful. Darris Binion, an AdvoCare distributor, offered free workouts once a week for the members. Shelly Colucci, owner of Pure Cycle, and Gina Garchar, a sprin instructor at the YMCA, offered multiple free spin classes to the group. The group also met on early mornings for a four mile outdoor walking challenge they named “Chills and Hills.”
The final meeting consisted of a food drive for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Mahoning Valley. Each participant donated a pound of food per pound they lost in the process. The participants will carry their food in bookbags for one last workout. The bookbags would then be donated to Austintown schools for students who are less fortunate.
Maria Tirado, the first place winner, won a cash prize of $1,020; the second place winner, Cathy Mellot, won a prize of $425 and third place winner, Karen Franczkowksi won a prize of $265. The top three winners were neck and neck in weight loss.
The total weight loss was 482.75 pounds, which meant 482.75 pounds of food would be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank. Four hundred and ninety-two inches, or 41 feet, were lost collectively.
Kate Kollar and her family, along with the owners of TEMA Services, matched dollar per pound of weight lost to donate. A total of 482.75 pounds of food were donated as well as $482.75 was donated to Second Harvest Food Bank.
“It truly was a wonderful experience,” said Mickey.