Do you have a balance of mind, body and spirit in your life? The YMCA is tackling the challenges that shape our town’s health by providing diverse fitness programs and by teaching healthy habits. Everything the Y does is in service of building a better us.

Health-care professional and community leader Catherine C. Grant, MSPAS, PA-C, is this week’s contributor. She is a founding partner at ExperCare Urgent Care Center in Richmond Hill. Grant also serves on the Richmond Hill/Bryan County Chamber of Commerce executive board as the treasurer and on the newly appointed Downtown Development Authority for the city of Richmond Hill. She has done extensive community service, including raising more than $62,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association’s Dancing Stars of Coastal Georgia in 2015 and bringing home the People’s Choice Award.

Q: As a health-care professional, how do you see the YMCA helping people make healthier choices?

A: We are all inundated with lifestyle choices we must make every single day and, whether healthy or harmful, sometimes the right choice is not always clear. That’s why I love the programs the YMCA offers its members. They work hard to offer healthy lifestyle educational classes and programs that help make the “best” choices, clearer. From chronic disease prevention to injury rehabilitation and health and wellness coaching, the Y is all about finding a healthy balance between the mind and body at every stage and age.

Q: What services have you learned that the Y offers that surprise you?

A: Most people know about the incredible youth programs the Y offers the Richmond Hill community, but they may not know about all of the great adult fitness and health programs they have as well. I just learned about a new one called the “Workout of the Day” class, which is a group fitness class that seems to be growing in popularity and is super motivational!

Q: Looking ahead, describe the YMCA you would like Richmond Hill to have within the next five years.

A: I think we should all utilize as many resources as we can to live a healthier lifestyle, and it’s my hope the YMCA continues to grow its diverse offerings over the next five years to include even more resources for children and adults that encourage staying active and making healthy choices. The YMCA in Bryan County is one of our best community resources and is definitely leading the way in youth development and healthy living initiatives.

Thank you, Catherine, for sharing your time and expertise in how a healthy lifestyle can be achieved. Your continued support of our YMCA is greatly appreciated!

Every day, our community faces new challenges that create a great need for the services that are offered at our Y. Donors, volunteers, members and partners like you make the difference. Please join us as our hero and make a gift to the YMCA’s annual campaign today. 

Together, we can reach our $50,000 goal to offer programs and services for those who are unable to pay.

Thank you to this week’s heroes who have pledged $1,000 or more: Alan Mock, Ser-Clean Inc., Wal-Mart, McDonald’s of Richmond Hill and The Hupman Group at Keller Williams.

If you or your company would like to become a community hero and make a donation of $1,000 or more, your name or business will be posted next week in this newspaper, a 2-foot-by-3-foot sign thanking you or your company will be placed in the YMCA for one year, and you will receive a yard sign to place at your business or home that recognizes you as a hero to our community.

The leaders at the YMCA believe it is our social responsibility to help people in our community who are in need of programs or services.

A gift of $100 assists a single parent with one month of after-school care.

A gift of $250 sends a child to two weeks of summer camp.

Know that our YMCA puts every dollar to good use helping people here in Richmond Hill. Go to our website if you would like to donate online. The Y’s annual campaign ends March 22, and next week will be my last article.

It is my hope that you achieve a balance of mind, body, and spirit in your life.

This column was written by Jeanne Muhlenberg and Lee Ergle, Richmond Hill YMCA board members.