My husband, Jeff, has been a YMCA member for 30 years and I  have been a member for 15 years.  We love the fact that we can go to almost any state and get our fitness on. We have been to California, Ohio, Nebraska, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and of course some Arizona facilities.  It is great to know that we have accessibility to the Y in many locations.

Jeff has always been an active guy—runner and weight lifter.  When we met, I took on that philosophy.  Jeff enjoys the workout floor and I have utilized the fitness classes—yoga. aerobic, strength training, and water aerobics.  I added weight lifting a few years ago.  When I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes several years prior, I made the decision that I was not going to be on meds for the rest of my life.  Between exercise and diet, I am happy that I am still not on any medications and neither is Jeff.

 I have also seen great improvement in my body due to personal training.  I had a goal to compete in June 2020 for a bodybuilding competition.  Our son is an avid bodybuilder and I thought, “Hey, I can do this.”  It would have been my first time competing in an over 50 class, and low and behold Covid happened. The competition didn’t occur so I TELL everyone that I placed 1 of 1 in the competition.  However, I haven’t lost that goal but it all depends on the restrictions of Covid and when the next completion is. I’m not giving up on that dream to compete; I hope to compete on the 5th of June 2021.

I also challenge each of you to work on you.  If you can see a new you, be a new you. 1. Eat healthier, 2. Work on your cardio and strength training, and 3. Set goals for yourself.  Your meals and continued exercise is most important.  Diets and fads can work but only if you have the money and will-power to continue with them.  Covid has hit Arizona and the world very hard.  Some of you may have had people you know who have contracted Covid; it has also taken some of our loved ones.  Hopefully, this year will make us all see things in a different perspective.

We have seen many changes in the YMCA, instructors, staff, and changes to the building.  Jeff and I have helped with some of the yearly update projects to the Y.   I became a board member in November 2018.  We love the staff because they have made us feel at “home,” not to mention the fact that we have met some great workout friends along the way.  We love the mission of the Y and they are a great organization. They also provide valuable swim lessons and programs for after school and summer camp. The YMCA is an outstanding organization and they aren’t going away.

For the year 2020, the YMCA provided the following:

• 6,417 children attended our Emergency Childcare, Preschool, and Y Academy programs, including 3,000 children of essential workers
  
• More than 338,000 meals served to youth and families in our childcare programs, more than triple the number of meals served in 2019      
• More than 125 individuals have had access to transitional housing program through the Y-Residence program in downtown Phoenix
• Conducted more than 8,000 wellness check and social calls with senior members to prevent social isolation while 193 seniors were provided support services including grocery shopping and delivery and prescription pick up
• More than 5,000 hours of work experience have been provided by youth ages 16-24 in our workforce development program

Please think of donating to the Southwest Valley YMCA.  We donate yearly but also, consider including the Y in your wills; we have.  Stay safe and we hope to see you at the YMCA!!!