“I’ve been a member of many different clubs in my life, but rarely have I felt like I was part of a community, at least not in the way I’ve felt since being part of the Run215 group that Jon initiated in Philadelphia. It’s rewarding, motivating, inspiring, supportive, and Jon is the biggest cheerleader and supporter of them all. Run215 isn’t about how fast you can run, it’s about promoting a healthy lifestyle, loving our city, being inclusive, facing every challenge, celebrating every win, and just being there for each other, all while having a ton of fun!”

“The Get Healthy GLA! Program, started at Global Leadership Academy Charter School, a West Philly public charter school for students in Grades K-8, has moved beyond a program to a way of life for the students, teachers, staff and their families. Leading this drive for healthier lifestyles is Dr. Naomi Johnson-Booker. As the head of a school with nearly 100 percent African American students, Dr. Booker was aware of the epidemic rates of childhood obesity and related diseases in communities of color. She began introducing healthy diet and exercise routines into the curriculum, not only to improve the overall health of the children but also to improve their academic performance. Because of Dr. Booker’s recognition of the impact of diet and exercise on education, GLA has become a model school for other schools across the country to emulate and the long-term impact on the health and wellbeing of the children of GLA is immeasurable.”

“Kristin Gavin is the founder and executive director of Gearing Up, a nonprofit cycling program that provides women in transition from addiction, abuse, and/or incarceration with the guidance, skills, and equipment to safely ride a bicycle for exercise, transportation, and personal growth. Adopting cycling as a lifestyle allows women to manage their physical health, develop a sense of belonging, and create community connections that enable them to build self-sufficient, crime-free, and sober lives. Gearing Up has grown from its initial inception into a flourishing model that operates four concurrent community programs across the city, running 12 rides per week, and providing dozens of bicycles to women riders. Kristin is a champion for holistic wellness, and for making that possible and accessible to all Philadelphia women. Gearing Up is a unique program, not just in Philadelphia, but nationally, and the program succeeds thanks to Kristin’s wisdom, insight, and relentless advocacy.”

“Gantt is an amazing mother, wife, athlete and advocate for brain injury survivors. 10 years ago, Gantt was hit by a truck, suffered a traumatic brain injury and was in a coma. Just five years after her accident, after three brain surgeries and lots of therapy, she ran the Boston Marathon and finished an Ironman, all to raise money for brain injury research at Penn. Then, last year, she organized and was the chairwoman of the first patient-centric conference for brain injury survivors at Penn called Mind Your Brain. It was so successful that she and her team are in the process of planning this now annual event for March 4th, 2016.”

“Dan’s positive energy has inspired me and many others to get and stay fit. He selflessly gives of himself to help others reach their fitness goals. I spent a couple years fighting a medical issue and emotional battle. A few of months toward the end, I reached a point where I was able to put all that on pause and breathe. Having been in a rut for so long, I didn’t know how to pick my life back up again. Twice in one week it was recommended that, since I enjoy running, I attend a fitness group that meets every Thursday, led by Dan. After my first class, I was hooked. With Dan’s guidance, support and friendship, I’ve now completed eight half marathons, three fulls, and am training for two more fulls for this fall. The class, his training, and the people he surrounds himself with all played a large role in jump-starting my life back up again. The spirit, encouragement and motivation he offers have been bigger than he knows. He’s changing lives, and not everyone can say that. “

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than three million people may be infected with Hepatitis C and most of them don’t even know it. In fact, HCV infection rates may be up to 10 times more prevalent in urban communities than HIV is. But Stacey Trooskin, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, is part of the Do One Thing, Change Everything campaign aimed at combating not only HCV, but also HIV, in medically underserved communities in Philadelphia. The program utilizes a unique mobile lab that offers free, rapid testing for both diseases. It’s one of the first of its kind in the country and aims to dramatically stimulate HCV and HIV testing in communities with high rates of infection. Philadelphia is serving as the campaign’s model city, with plans to offer it in other cities in the future.”

“Beth Devine is a health hero due to her dedication and work to help inner city girls get and stay healthy. She is the founder of Philly Girls in Motion, which provides many diverse programs — from lacrosse, running, zumba, Pilates, yoga, healthy eating, rugby, basketball, and more — to get young girls between the ages of eight and 13 moving, excited and healthy in fun programs that they enjoy. The key is that Beth provides these programs in areas where they aren’t available and she gets parents involved, so the good things they learn in PGiM programs can continue to be applied at home. She is a class act who truly cares about the girls and their healthy future. Her “it takes a village approach” is refreshing! “

“Lia is the leader of the Team Humane League Meatless Monday Running Crew, and is a super-positive, motivational person. Connecting running with a positive cause (animal welfare) and a group of positive people has led so many of us to push ourselves harder than we otherwise could have. When I joined the team in the summer of 2014, the most I’d ever done was a 5K race, and I thought the Rothman 8k was going to be a stretch for me. With Lia’s encouragement, I learned I had a half marathon in me, and am training now to do the full 26.2 with the team for this November! So many of us on the team have similar stories about what Lia has inspired us to do, and the moves she’s inspired us to make toward eating healthier and more humanely — so healthier for those we share the planet with, too!”

“Derek Fitzgerald just took a 44-day, 3,400-mile bike ride across the country to raise awareness and funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. In 2003, Derek was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. The chemotherapy he received saved his life, but severely damaged his heart leading to a heart transplant. Along the way, he overcame severe weight gain and loss, a gall bladder removal, heart failure, diabetes, and death — twice. During cardiac rehabilitation, he was able to build upon his therapy sessions to run in a 5K race just eight months after his transplant. Since that first 5K in September 2011, Derek has competed in over 70 different endurance events — marathons, 100-mile bike rides, half and full-distance Ironman triathlons — with the goal of raising awareness and funds for those with cancer and organ failure. Derek runs, swims and bikes to say thank you to all the people that supported him and to honor the people that didn’t make it this far.”

“Christina is truly heroic and selfless. She has worked tirelessly to address the needs of the HIV+ community and recently, she brought to life a new HIV testing site located in Philly Aids Thrift, a nonprofit thrift store dedicated to addressing the needs of people with HIV/AIDS. People who might otherwise avoid being tested in more clinical settings can relax and be tested and counseled discreetly while in this wonderful store. Many, many people help others, but Christina is something else. She has a magnetic and captivating personality, she makes people comfortable, she is an extremely effective community organizer and public speaker. She makes stuff happen!”

“The group Latinas in Motion was organized by Elaine Johnson when she was having difficulty with her weight, health, and body image. In her own quest to become healthy and fit, she started a group for women to encourage, inspire, and empower one another to get active, which became known as Latinas in Motion. Latinas in Motion has expanded exponentially in the last few years. They have meet-ups, runs and workouts not only in Philadelphia, but in New Jersey, New York, Delaware and more. There’s even a newly added chapter in Texas! This initiative is especially impactful to Latinas, but the group welcomes everyone and anyone who wants to get fit and needs the empowerment and emotional support from others in their community to do so. “

“Beverly Brown has done an amazing job transforming people’s lives each day. This phenomenal woman is a certified spin instructor, Zumba Instructor, personal trainer, run coordinator for Black Girls RUN!, and marathon runner. She continuously sows the seeds of being healthy so that all can choose to live a quality life and enjoy what life has in store for them. She is so supportive of others and that is why she has such a great following. In addition to being an example of good health, she has started her own clothing line for workout gear that is fantastic and makes you feel like you have the power to conquer all. And she does all of this while working full-time!”

“As an internal medical physician, Dr. Christine Meyer provides first-class, personalized attention to all of her patients but Christine has gone well beyond providing care to patients: She launched a nonprofit called Team CMMD which started with a few ordinary people hoping to raise money for cancer research and has grown to over 1,000 runners, cyclists, and supporters working together to support those fighting cancer within our community and beyond through financial assistance, scholarship and assisting local organizations. Dr. Meyer accomplished much more than just fundraising, she encouraged hundreds of people to stay healthier through running and cycling. I can’t express strongly enough what a difference this woman has made.”

“It appears to be a regular Tuesday at a local gym, however today, something is different. Today, the people working out next to you are all veterans of the U.S. military who, after their service, found themselves homeless, struggling with mental health challenges. And they’re all here because of one Philly health hero: Ken Wilson. Ken is also a veteran, who returned to Philadelphia after his service in 1986 and later found himself homeless. His eye opening life change came after being arrested a number of times due to his need to get high and escape his past hurts. He made the biggest change of his life: a change to get healthy. Now, Ken works as a certified peer specialist at Pathways to Housing PA where he created the Fitness and Fun program, a group focused on improving participants’ physical and mental health through exercise, all while rebuilding their sense of self. If there was ever someone worthy of the title Philly’s health hero, Ken Wilson is it.”

“Dr. Laura Offutt is a trailblazer in the area of teen health information, reaching teens where they are: online. She delivers accurate health info on everything from sex to health supplements to diet and exercise and much more on her website, Real Talk with Dr. Offutt. This is a first-of-a-kind endeavor that she insists will remain free of advertising so that the information is unbiased and verifiable. She has also established a teen advisory board to provide essential input and encourages teens anywhere to submit anonymous questions to which she posts responses for all.”

“A hero is someone who inspires others and there is no one more inspiring than Emily Kramer-Golinkoff. She has battled Cystic Fibrosis her entire life. No easy feat. But Emily has taken her disease head on and used her knowledge for the betterment of others. She created a foundation called Emily’s Entourage to help herself and others with the same rare genetic mutation of CF. The foundation was started in 2011 and in its short existence has already raised over $1 million to go toward finding a cure for CF. This is truly life-saving research, and due to all of this incredible work she and her foundation do, Emily was just honored at the White House as a Precision Medicine Champion of Change, along with a handful of other major industry influencers. Emily impresses me daily and I admire her tremendously. She inspires me to live a fuller, more enriching life, both from an experiential standpoint and health standpoint.”