From Midtown to Sainte-Justine: Helping Kids Lead Happier and Healthier Lives
For seven years, Midtown has been a proud supporter of Sainte-Justine’s CIRCUIT Centre and its mission to implement personalized interventions for children and teenagers at risk for cardiovascular disease. “Midtown’s promise is to inspire through movement, community and personal attention, and the annual Midtown to Sainte-Justine event captures all of these values and beliefs we hold dear”: Richard Earney, Midtown Sanctuaire’s General Manager.
This year, with the help of sponsors, Midtown’s Trainers have built up to the Midtown to Sainte-Justine event by hosting weekly exercise sessions and inviting local celebrities, such as Comedian Maxim Martin, Athletes Charles Hamelin and Marianne St-Gelais and world class Chef Marie-Fleur St-Pierre, to show support. Midtown’s Nutritionists also offer a precious contribution to this valuable cause, creating amazing synergy between the hospital and the club. A glance at the events major contributors Patrice Vachon, Partner at Fasken Martineau and sponsor of the event There is not much Patrice Vachon wouldn’t do for a worthy cause. And if you really want to see him light up, throw in a challenge. Patrice simply can’t refuse! Last year, for the Midtown to Sainte-Justine campaign, he challenged the CIRCUIT Centre’s children to work out with him every day and lose weight. Mission accomplished: Patrice lost 25 lbs in 3 months. This year, Patrice has set the bar even higher. Forty years after having quit, he has learned to play the guitar again, and with a little help from his friend Angèle Dubeau, he will be gracing us with two songs at the gala evening.
Andrew D'Ermo, Certified Personal Trainer at Midtown Sanctuaire
Andrew’s journey to starting a fitness career started when he was only 11 years old. “I was fascinated with having big strong muscles just like my WWF wrestling heroes on TV.” Starting with simple push-ups and bicep curls, he slowly but surely educated himself about what he needed to do to gain serious muscle and strength. “I went through all the myths, tricks and false information in magazines and supplement ads before discovering the absolute truths about optimal health and fitness. Today, my goal is to be a passionate leader for those who want to transform themselves. Being a health and fitness coach is one of the best jobs in the world because you have the privilege to be THE living example of the most important aspect of a human being's life: accomplishing optimal health and well-being.” Amandine Moukarzel, Nutritionist at Midtown Sanctuaire Amandine is passionate about helping others and promoting healthy living. “I believe that everything is rooted in health and that nutrition is a constantly evolving, colourful and rich science.” Having worked for three years in Nutrition departments at Sainte-Justine Hospital, she knows that even though child obesity is on the rise, services and care are extremely limited. Thanks to her experience in the hospital setting, Amandine is quite an asset to Midtown’s contribution to the CIRCUIT Centre’s program. “Eating healthy is a habit that is best acquired in childhood. The CIRCUIT Centre brings families, healthcare professionals and community stakeholders together to help children live healthier lives, and that’s exactly the kind of interdisciplinary team work we need to achieve our goals!” France Biron, heart disease prevention and cardiac rehabilitation, CIRCUIT Centre France Biron was lucky: physical activity always held a special place in her family’s life. Not surprisingly, she ended up studying kinesiology! After graduation, France worked with adults, but when she heard of a heart disease prevention and cardiac rehabilitation position at Sainte-Justine, she knew the job was for her. “Kids with cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes often don’t know the joy of physical activity. At the CIRCUIT Centre, we evaluate their habits and put together an action plan to motivate them to be active on a daily basis.” Since January 2011, more than 660 kids have been referred to the CIRCUIT Centre to get healthy by reducing their cardiovascular risk factors. Alarming numbers that say so much about our youth’s needs… Dominique Larivée, actor and spokesperson for the CIRCUIT Centre Dominique is living proof of the CIRCUIT Centre’s relevance. Struggling with weight issues, she was enrolled in a special Health, Nutrition and Physical Activity program at camp. “Every day, we would work with a kinesiologist from the CIRCUIT Centre who inspired me to be active. She is one of the reasons I signed up at the CIRCUIT Centre and ultimately lost weight, gained self-confidence and made my dream of becoming an actor come true!” The CIRCUIT Centre gives wings to kids whose health problems are stopping them from reaching their goals or who are held back by poor self-esteem. And when a kid reaches his or her full potential, we all win!