Photo courtesy of Melissa Thomas

For forty Monroe County residents, the culmination of a life-changing goal concluded with a race to the finish. On May 16th , these individuals participated in the American Heart Association 5K Run in Southfield. What made this event so remarkable is that many of these participants had been morbidly obese not more than 6 to 12 months ago.

For Newport resident Staci Compher, participating in the event was more than just completing a physical feat she would have thought impossible only a year ago. “I am here today for my husband,” she confides. “He passed away 19 months ago of a dilated cardiomyopathy. We had fought obesity together for years.” Staci proudly ran with his picture while wearing his watch. “I know he’s here with me, with every step.” With so many steps taken, Staci has shed 140 pounds, but still plans to climb higher and lose even more. “Now I have to set an example for our daughters to live a more active lifestyle.”

Jenifer Emery of Newport agrees with Staci. “I have a three year old son and the way I was living my life was not a good example. I want to be around to watch him grow and to watch him as a father teach his children the healthy lessons I had taught him.” Echoing this belief is Steve Vitale of Monroe. “Heart disease has touched my family,” he reveals, “and has touched my life as well. I refuse to be a victim and I am changing my lifestyle for a better tomorrow.”

All of the participants are graduates of Great Lakes Weight and Wellness, a Monroe based weight loss program focusing on medical supervision, meal plan replacements, and behavioral counseling. “Seeing people become physically active for the first time in years, and for a good cause, is very rewarding and helps to remind us all,” shares program director Melissa Thomas, “that healthy living, while often neglected in these stressful times, is very much the key to our mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Plus, having been overweight myself, I know first hand what that change is like, and the lifetime benefits it brings.”

Owner Dr. Stephen Bell agrees. “The 5k walk for the AHA was a great time to reflect on the tragedy of cardiovascular disease from a number of angles. It was a great opportunity for my wife, Michelle, and I to have the conversation with our boys about the importance of living in a healthy way and to demonstrate our collective support for victims of this cruel disease. It was extraordinarily gratifying to see how far and how fast our Great Lakes Weight and Wellness patients have come. Their courage and stamina has led them to dramatic lifestyle changes and their achievement is an inspiration to all of us. They reinforce our commitment to helping patients improve their lives, and the worth our endeavors at Great Lakes Weight and Wellness. We feel very privileged to be able to participate in the AHA walk with these successful patients.”

In addition to the physical accomplishment, Monroe County participants raised $1,000 for the American Heart Association.