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Healthy Lombard Announces the 2016 Health Hero Award Winners

The Healthy Lombard Foundation would like to congratulate the winners of their 2016 Health Hero Awards. In the first category, that honors individuals who have made a noticeable effort to improve their health and wellness during the past year, the winners are Lombard residents Dave Frank, Mike Janssen, Bonnie Kramer and Janience Lewitke.

In the second category, two greater Lombard area businesses that have helped the community to make positive, healthy changes have been selected. They are Maxfields Restaurant, located at and Revolution Physical Therapy Weight Loss i

Health Heroes receives their awards at the 2016 Healthy Lombard Fitness February Fair that was held at the Yorktown Center Mall On February 27, 2016.Ben Tipton from Ironclad Performance, that sponsored the awards and Supernova, the mascot of the Red Stars Women's Soccer Team joined Healthy Lombard Foundation to presented the winners with their awards.

Here is a synopsis of why these individuals and groups were selected:

Dave Frank - nominated by Michelle Bell, Victoria DiPego, and Beth Mamolella

Dave Frank is a dedicated father, husband, and friend to many. This past year he has taken on a new job and set a plan to get healthier that included charting his weight loss progress on Facebook. Through these lifestyle changes and his time at Sky Centers, Dave has lost 60 pounds and is continuing on a great, healthy path! 
Through his example and motivation, he encourages many to step out of their comfort zones and participate in a healthier life as well. In addition, Dave is an inspiration to everyone at Sky Centers especially the young children he mentors and helps teach martial arts too. He always has a smile on his face and something pleasant to talk about.

Mike Janssen nominated by Dave Frank

Mike Janssen is a great example of what individuals must do to improve their health and wellness. As head instructor at Sky Centers Martial Arts, he not only discusses the need to eat a healthy diet as well as set up and maintain a workout regimen he also leads by example by changing his exercise regimen to the extent that he is going to another gym to work out, and also having a plan with specific goals in mind and sticking to it!

Bonnie Kramer, nominated by her Sister, Vicki Webb, and Aunt, Ruth Stiemann.

Over a year ago Bonnie was diagnosed with spindle cell sarcoma, a rare cancer that not much is known about. After receiving proton radiation therapy and having the brick sized tumor removed from her back, she decided that one way she could help herself in the healing process and to stay healthy, was to change her diet and increase her exercise. Bonnie adopted a mostly vegan diet and began walking around her neighborhood and at Yorktown Mall to build up her strength. She has currently joined a health club and has lost over fifty pounds. Bonnie is a great example of courage. First in the way she has handling this difficult diagnosis; second, as a nurse, in the manner she continued to work in spite of all of the proton treatments and many doctor appointments yet always caring for her patients with great compassion, and third the loving way she cares for her family.

Janiece Lewitke nominated by Bonnie Kramer

After the birth of her last child this past year, Janiece has focused intensely not only on a significant weight loss, but major lifestyle changes. Janiece would say that Bonnie was the inspiration for her after I had cancer, and adopted a healthy lifestyle, but Bonnie feels that it is Janiece who is the true inspiration! She has not only lost 82 pounds this past year, but also has focused on helping others to also change their lifestyles as well. The recent small group she has following her has already lost over 30 pounds themselves. However, Bonnie shared that the real reason she nominated Janiece what because of the way she is making a difference in the battle against childhood obesity starting in her own home. Her two young children love when she gets home from work and they can help prep healthy meals, but she has also gotten them interested in exercising as a family and as the kids call it "cising" with mommy.

(BUESINESSES)

MAXFIELDS' RESTAURANT

It is with sincere gratitude that the Healthy Lombard foundation presents a 2016 Health Hero Award to Tony and Vicky Topalidis the owners of Maxfields Restaurant located at 352 E. Roosevelt Road in Lombard. This Lombard eatery has taken many steps to offer a location that has a welcoming atmosphere as well as reasonably priced yet delicious menu items. This past year they went one step further and became the first restaurant in Lombard to allow a nutritionist, from Revolution Physical Therapy and Weight Loss, a healthy Lombard Partner, to review their offerings and then implemented her suggestions. When patrons arrive they each receive a special insert that highlights both

breakfast and lunch items that fit in any diet plan. In addition, the insert also features the Healthy Lombard logo thereby announcing to all that Maxfields is committed to helping make the healthy choice an easy choice.

Revolution Physical Therapy and Weight Loss

The Healthy Lombard Foundation is also grateful to Revolution Physical Therapy and Weight Loss (RPTWL) located at 720 W. Roosevelt Road in Glen Ellyn, IL for the tremendous support it has given the foundations Healthy Eating Project. Their nutritionist, Alea Olson, initially volunteered her expertise on what constitutes a healthy, nutritional portion item and then spent many, many more hours reviewing with Maxfields Restaurant and currently with the Main Street Cafe how they could tweat some of their selection to fit with a healthier plan of eating. This type of consultation would have been a costly endeavor for Healthy Lombard, something our budget could not afford, but because of the committee to developing a healthier community, RPTWL has help us make a different in our mission to adder the epidemic of childhood obesity and promote a healthier lifestyle for everyone.

Healthy Lombard, a 501(c)3 Foundation, whose mission is to help find solutions to the problem of childhood obesity and promote a healthier lifestyle for everyone, is proud to present all those listed above with 2016 Health Hero Awards.

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