A recent donation has pumped up the strength of the Bradford
Family YMCA’s fight to get area children fit.

The Halloran Foundation and American Refining Group Youth
Fitness Room is up and running through a $50,000 donation from
Harry Halloran Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of
ARG.

The room, which opened on Thursday, features a full line of
strength training equipment, two treadmills, two bicycles and a DDR
– Dance Dance Revolution. This allows the kids to dance on a
special pad while a TV screen shows them what steps to do.

All of the equipment is specifically designed for youth in
grades 3-8, Gail Hostuttler, branch executive director, said.

“We want to get people up and moving,” she said.

Participants should have three orientation sessions to learn how
to use the equipment. The room is also staffed.

“The kids love it,” she said, adding the place is packed in the
afternoons and evenings. “The response has been amazing.”

One of the draws, she said, is that it’s a place the kids can
call their own.

Pete Buchheit, president of the YMCA board, said the machines
are more age appropriate. There’s a smaller chance the children
will get hurt as opposed to the bigger machines.

The YMCA is also looking to start NEW Kids program which will
teach nutrition, education and weight management, which will
utilize the room.

The $50,000 donation paid for a wall, carpeting and wiring as
well as the equipment.

Ally Marasco and Jessica Buchheit, two girls who have used the
room, were on hand to personally thank Halloran for the
donation.

Halloran explained that the donation was a way to give back to
the community.

“The community has been good to us,” he said. “It’s important to
be involved in the community.”

It was that thought that propelled the company to donate to
several local organizations.

Halloran asked Chief Operating Officer Harvey Golubock to
suggest area entities the company and foundation could donate money
towards.

Golubock suggested the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford,
Bradford Regional Medical Center and the YWCA, as well as the
YMCA.

Halloran said he was pleased with the way the room turned
out.

“This is great,” he said. “It’s a real pleasure to be able to
see how it is going to impact the community.”

He also noted he was surprised at how far the money went in
finishing the room.

According to information provided by the YMCA, it is no secret
that child obesity is a growing epidemic in our society.

The Center for Disease Control released a report recently that
children today have a lower life expectancy than that of their
parents. This statistic is staggering – but child obesity is
preventable. The YMCA can help with the solution by providing
opportunities for activity, education and healthy lifestyle
initiatives.

Recently, the Bradford YMCA Board of Directors unanimously
approved becoming an Activate America YMCA. Activate America is an
innovative public health initiative of the YMCA movement that is
making healthy living a reality for millions of Americans. Within
Activate America, there are programs to serve different age
populations and combat the growing statistics of unhealthy
living.

The YMCA is thrilled to have this brand new addition to its
facility and has trained staff to teach youth how to properly use
the new fitness equipment.