Dear friends and family,  

I am honored to be a member of the Healthworks Community Fitness 2013 Boston Marathon team.  

I believe in the power of exercise and health education to transform lives – from preventing chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension to increasing self-esteem and confidence.

Healthworks Community Fitness (HCF) is a non-profit organization based in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston that provides access to fitness opportunities as well as nutrition- and health-related information for women and children in low-income neighborhoods who may otherwise have no access to this type of opportunity.  Key programs include:

• The Physician Referral Program where doctors can write “prescriptions” for exercise instead of medicine that HCF “fills” with free memberships for patients diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension, obesity and mood disorders; 
• Weekly fitness and health education programs for youth ages 5-12; 
• A wide variety of adult group fitness classes including Zumba and yoga

These programs have, for many members, resulted in a reduction in doctor visits and a decreased dependency on prescription medications.  

Healthworks, a local family-owned gym, founded HCF as a non-profit part of their business and donates a significant portion of their profits to the organization each year.  However, Healthworks Community Fitness needs additional help to continue to offer and to improve its services to women and children in need.  It needs YOUR help.

I have been a member of Healthworks for 5 years, and it has been an integral part of my own personal health and fitness journey; I rehabbed 100% from knee surgery thanks to the welcoming, supportive environment and especially to the amazing training staff and am in the best shape of my life… which makes me feel able to tackle the challenge of training for and running the legendary Boston Marathon.

I have never run a marathon before so it’s a daunting task but running for HCF is profoundly motivating.  I sincerely thank you for any donation you would like to give to support the mission of Healthworks Community Fitness.

Healthworks Community Fitness Inc. wrote -

Healthworks Community Fitness (HCF) is honored to participate in the John Hancock Non-Profit Marathon Program, and we appreciate your interest and support!

We are excited to welcome a small team of runners who are dedicated not only to finishing the most prestigious, and arguably the most challenging, marathon in the world, but who are also committed to the mission of Healthworks Community Fitness, and the power of exercise and health education to transform lives.

HCF is dedicated to reducing and preventing lifestyle-related chronic diseases, including diabetes, hypertension and obesity, in low-income neighborhoods by providing affordable access to high-quality fitness opportunities and health education. We empower women and children to lead healthier lives so they can feel better and accomplish more, and we invite you to become involved.