Free fitness program offered to disabled veterans

Posted November 09, 2016 10:00 pm

Submitted by Adam Cumbee, Des Plaines Park District

Philip Hengels, a Marine and Vietnam veteran, poses with his wife and Battle Buddy Ginny, along with trainer Jon Kahney, after completing the Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies program at the Des Plaines Park District. Courtesy of Des Plaines Park District

The Des Plaines Park District, in association with the Maine-Niles Association for Special Recreation (M-NASR) and Allen Force, is offering a free program to disabled veterans called Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies.

Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies, or HMHB, is a program created by Allen Force that is designed to provide fitness opportunities to disabled veterans through specialized training.

Eligible veterans will meet with a licensed HMHB trainer for 15 complimentary, personalized training sessions and will additionally receive a free, one-year fitness center membership for themselves and a "Battle Buddy" to accompany them on their workouts.

M-NASR also organizes monthly socials to bring program attendees together to network and share their stories.

All HMHB trainers go through a certification process in which they learn about veteran culture, as well as the various afflictions that are suffered by veterans such as traumatic injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder. The training process also features an interactive session with HMHB graduates who share their stories from the program along with insights in how to improve the process for future veterans that enroll.

Within the first year of the program, the Des Plaines Park District is the proud home of three HMHB graduates and is already receiving positive reviews from the graduates.

"Thanks to the Des Plaines Park District, we were able to participate in the program under the excellent guidance of Jon Kahney," Marine and Vietnam veteran Philip Hengels said. "Not only did he go out of his way to accommodate our schedules and needs, but he also helped me lose 17 pounds and become stronger than I have been in a very long time."

Hengels continued, "Jon was not only a mentor, but has become a very good friend to my wife and I, and still encourages me on my path to being healthier and staying in shape even after the program finished. It is open to all disabled veterans, and I truly wish more of them have an opportunity to learn about it and take advantage of all that it has to offer."

For information on Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies, contact Jon Kahney at (847) 391-5711 or jon.kahney@dpparks.org. To see if you are eligible for the program, contact Alexandra Walch of M-NASR at (847) 966-5522 or awalch@mnasr.org.

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Dominic Pierri poses with trainer Jon Kahney after completing the Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies Program through the Des Plaines Park District. Courtesy of Des Plaines Park District

Tom Strossner, a Vietnam veteran who served in the Navy, poses with trainer Jon Kahney after completing the Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies program at the Des Plaines Park District. Courtesy of Des Plaines Park District

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