Welcome to our 3rd annual Health Heroes edition of the Health Matters Newsletter. Watch the videos below to hear from your fellow employees as each discusses his or her individual journey to better health. Each video is presented in 2 sizes: Hi-def (full screen) and 320x240 (smaller file)

Assistant Deputy County Executive Rhonda Berry started her fitness quest when she began work at the county in December 2009. By "just walking more", Rhonda has seen positive results. “I have lost weight, my blood sugar A1C levels have gone down and my blood pressure has gone down." Hi-def video     320x240 video

King County Deputy Sheriff Jeff Harmon is a cancer survivor who knows his successful outcome was because he was so healthy when he started treatment. His advice to others is: “Don’t take your health for granted. Pay attention and be proactive. No one else can do it for you.” Hi-def video       320x240 video

EAP Coordinator Tony Hansen takes us to Pike Place Market and Seattle Athletic club as he explains how he includes healthy activity in his daily routine. He found his gym through the Gym Discount Program and invited us to come to one of his workout sessions with his trainer, Joel Mitchell.  “Joel has really helped me break through a lot of barriers.” Hi-def video      320x240 video

Public Health Epidemiologist Susan Kinne states it very simply. “I love to row.” She joined her current rowing club 14 years ago, but it’s the 2009 Head of the Charles Regatta that puts a smile on her face. Last year was the first time she competed as a single rower in this “Granddaddy of all head races.” How’d she do? Hi-def video      320x240 video

King County Deputy Sheriff Starla Martin first knew something was wrong when her dog Hunter stepped on her left side and she felt a lump. Soon came intensive chemotherapy and radiation. Starla credits her successful recovery to her good health going into treatment. Now Starla is the first female ever accepted to the King County Bike Team.  “It pays to work out and catch criminals as a bonus” she says. Hi-def video       320x240 video

Deborah DeQuier-Bowden and Nicole Edwards asked their friend Jean if she could bring Zumba classes to North Public Heath. After a year, she said yes! Supervisor Kathleen Stine approved the logistics and made it happen. Fifteen people signed up for the Zumba class on the first day. Laura Jackson thinks so highly of the class, that she thinks other county worksites would benefit from it. Hi-def video      320x240 video

R.N. Jean Yue wasn't always sure if her fellow employees were as committed as she was to Zumba. But that did not stop her from working very hard to receive her official Zumba Instructor certification. Now Jean is happy to be part of a healthy solution to the stress and frustration tht sometimes comes along with working in a Public Health center. Hi-def video      320x240 video

Jim O’Rourke, Operations Manager, Transit, experienced his wake-up call in 2005 when a Saturday morning phone call to the Consulting Nurse Line ended up with his receiving 5 stents to open up clogged arteries. This situation inspired him to make a few changes to his life. “I definitely think that stress played a factor.” Hi-def video      320x240 video