This press release was provided by Fitness Formula Clubs. The Club Industry editorial staff was not involved in the creation of this content.
Chicago resident Dawn La Fleur, a community-oriented working foster parent, has been named the winner of Fitness Formula Clubs' 2014 "Year of Wellness Contest." FFC, Chicago's largest privately owned reciprocal usage health club chain, has nine Chicago locations and has served area residents for 30 years. Launched in 2013, the Year of Wellness Contest seeks to publicly recognize individuals who have effectively demonstrated a newfound commitment to fitness and provides support in their efforts to maintain a healthy lifestyle. La Fleur was nominated by her 14-year-old daughter, Charlotte, after losing 100 lbs in approximately six months during 2013 through diet and exercise. Hundreds of voters and a panel of judges selected La Fleur from 62 contestants to win its Year of Wellness prize package valued at $13,000.
"Every fitness gym starts the New Year using weight loss challenges as a marketing tool to capitalize on often-abandoned health-related resolutions," said Gale Landers, FFC founder and CEO. "This year, FFC chose to reward someone who had already made measurable gains in improving their physical fitness. We are honored to celebrate Dawn La Fleur as our 2014 Year of Wellness contest winner and support her as she continues her new, healthy lifestyle throughout 2014."
Like most working mothers, La Fleur often prioritized the needs of her family above her own, leading to unhealthy weight gain. In her Year of Wellness contest entry submission, Charlotte described her mother as a selfless person who nurtures a multigenerational family, serves as a volunteer for multiple community programs and works part time -- all with a shining smile on her face but little time to take care of herself.
"The last couple years before my mom began her weight loss program were tough because there were many things she wanted to do but was physically unable to," Charlotte La Fleur said. "Her knees were always hurting, and she was in a lot of pain."
After years of failed attempts at losing the unwanted weight, Dawn La Fleur committed herself to a low-calorie diet prescribed by her physician and lost 50 lbs within three months. Her loved ones first took notice of this milestone achievement during a family winter camp last February when Le Fleur played floor hockey effortlessly, running up and down the court with ease. Moved by La Fleur's obvious delight in her changing figure, the La Fleur family rallied around her until she reached her goal of shedding 100 lbs.
"None of this would've been possible without the support of my family and the FFC community," said La Fleur. "From my daughter's nomination to the overwhelming number of fan votes, the whole experience has been amazing. I look forward to achieving my ultimate life goal of maintaining long-term, healthy weight."
FFC's Year of Wellness $13,000 grand prize package is designed to help La Fleur maintain her new healthy lifestyle. It includes:
- FREE 12-month FFC Premier Membership
- Weekly personal training sessions
- Monthly Pilate's sessions
- Monthly massages
- FREE one-year membership to One Medical Group, the presenting sponsor of the contest
- FREE Ortanic custom airbrush tanning for one year
- Two FREE Divvy Bike annual memberships
- One-year supply of Mark Bars
- FREE Protein Bar smoothies for one year
- A NovaCare rehabilitation package that includes video gait analysis and 10 antigravity treadmill sessions
- One-year supply of Argo Tea
- A FREE makeover from Mario Triocci, Chicago's original day spa
With nine locations throughout the Chicagoland area and memberships beginning as low as $16 per week, FFC encourages individuals seeking to improve their health and fitness in 2014 to speak with one of their certified experts about designing a customized program to achieve maximum results. For more information about FFC, visit www.ffc.com.
To see the video clip of Dawn La Fleur accepting the 2014 FFC Year of Wellness award, please visit http://ffc.com/year-of-wellness/
About Fitness Formula Clubs, Ltd. (FFC)
Established in 1984 by Founder and CEO Gale Landers, FFC owns and operates upscale, mid- and large-size multi-use health, sports, spas and fitness centers throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Through its corporate wellness programs, health and nutrition education seminars and numerous, customized individual and group training options, FFC works to support and enrich Chicago's total wellness community. For more information, visit www.ffc.com.