Saira's Story
One in 10 teenagers in our county is overweight; Saira, 9, doesn’t want to become a part of this group like her three older siblings. For her, the Y’s Actively Changing Together (ACT!) class is the answer.
ACT! is a free, United Way-funded program that blends physical activity, nutrition education and parent engagement. For a girl at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, Saira’s involvement—along with 149 other children—has provided access to resources and information she wouldn’t have had otherwise.
Trading soda for self-control hasn’t been easy, but Saira tries everything ACT! introduces. She’s even discovered a love of tae kwon do, pomegranate and becoming a physical education teacher.
“The main thing is to have a healthy life,” says her mother, Maria. “It’s not about being skinny, it’s about being healthy.”