Two years ago, The Parkview Heart Institute recognized a need to connect women seeking personal change on a more substantial level. From this vision, the Her Heart Challenge was born. The inaugural class officially completed the program earlier this year, making way for the next group of ladies.
The team welcomed the 2017 class of Her Heart Challenge participants this past weekend for Basic Training, held at Camp Potawotami. “The kickoff event is the foundation for their next 12 weeks,” Leah Felger, MSN, RN, program coordinator, the Parkview Heart Institute, said. There were 38 women at camp this year, a significant growth from the previous year.
What should the group expect? “These women will make new friends, find accountability in each other, and start down a new path toward making lifestyle changes to decrease their own risks of heart disease,” Leah said. “Like last year, we saw their anxiety melt away as they listened to the stories of each participant. It’s palpable. It takes courage and vulnerability to stand up and answer the question, ‘Why am I here?’.
While the curriculum will remain largely the same, the objectives will vary somewhat by participant. “They’re all here to get healthy, in whatever manner that is for them,” Leah said. “Each one has their own goals, yet each one can easily relate to everyone else in the program. Our focus is on getting people back to the basics; the evidence-based best practices that really work. We cut through the noise and meet them where they are so they can make healthy changes that they can actually live with. That’s our goal. We are truly looking forward to working with these women over the next 12 weeks and excited for their future!”
Best of luck to the class of 2017!
