Meet Our Take Charge! Champions
These five Champions embody real-life Take Charge! journeys. Each one shows that change is possible through everyday choices, courage, and support.
And this is just the beginning! We'll continue introducing new Take Charge! Champions, sharing real stories of people finding their own paths, overcoming challenges, and discovering what's possible.
Mike Boyd
Transformation Champion
Journey Animal: Land Turtle
One step. One choice. One day at a time.
"I'm just an ordinary guy who was given a second chance, and I love helping others believe they can have one too."
A SECOND CHANCE
Ten years ago, Mike Boyd nearly lost his life to diabetic ketoacidosis. That crisis gave him a second chance and a decision: keep making excuses, or begin making better choices one day at a time. Mike chose to begin.
STEADY ACTION
He lost more than 100 pounds, rebuilt his strength, came off diabetes medication under medical care, and discovered that movement could be more than exercise. Small choices, repeated consistently, can change a life.
MOVEMENT WITH JOY
Cycling became his passion, his stress relief, and a daily reminder of how far he had come. Cycling, walking, and disc golf became part of the life he wants to live.
ORDINARY DECISIONS, REPEATED
Mike describes his journey as a life built through ordinary decisions repeated consistently: one healthier meal, one walk, one bike ride, and one reason to keep going.
Jordan Van Valey
Strength and Wellness Champion
Journey Animal: Lioness
Strength and grace can coexist.
"Movement is medicine, however you can manage to get it in. It doesn't always have to be a strict workout plan."
REAL LIFE, REAL STRENGTH
Jordan is a wife, mother of two young girls, elementary school paraprofessional, health coach, and lifelong believer in movement. Fitness began as something she enjoyed and became something her body and mind needed.
LEARNING TO LISTEN
After being diagnosed with Hashimoto's, Jordan paid closer attention to how food, strength training, rest, and stress affected the way she felt. She continues to learn, adjust, and make room for health inside a busy family life.
LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE
Her daughters have grown up seeing movement, balanced meals, and self-care as normal parts of life. Jordan leads by example while reminding other women that movement can be joyful, varied, and realistic.
GRACE OVER COMPARISON
She trains so she can stay present, capable, and active with her family. She rejects perfection and makes space for real life.
Zack Boyd
Wildlife Advocate, Adventurer, and Educator
Journey Animals: Sea Turtle and Snake
Guided by purpose. Connected to nature. True to his path.
"I hope that the best story is still to come."
A LIFE BUILT DIFFERENTLY
Zack chose an unconventional path and built a life around wildlife, adventure, learning, creating and helping people see the natural world differently. When the opportunity came to move to Australia, saying no never felt like an option.
DRIVEN BY NATURE
His love of wildlife began as a boy watching Steve Irwin and Jeff Corwin, then running outside to catch frogs, turtles, fish and bugs. That curiosity eventually carried him across Australia and into rare wildlife encounters.
ADVENTURE OVER COMFORT
From searching for crocodiles at night to turning a breakdown in Julia Creek into one of his favorite memories, Zack has learned that the detour can become the adventure.
A DREAM WITH PURPOSE
In Thailand, Zack dreams of creating a wildlife-centered café or bar where education feels like fun: parrots, reptiles, conversation, shows and hands-on experiences that help people care more about wildlife.
Anne Schabacker
Everyday Choices Champion
Journey Animal: Hummingbird
Small choices create momentum.
"This started with choosing a sweet potato over a baked potato. That was it. From there, it just snowballed."
A WILLING LEARNER
Anne began with one simple experiment: using ChatGPT as an AI-supported food journal. She expected tracking. She did not expect the process to become easy, encouraging, and even fun for both her and her husband, Paul.
EVERYDAY ACTION
Meal feedback helped them notice patterns, add more protein and vegetables, plan before restaurant meals, and turn breakfast scores into a friendly challenge. Better choices began to snowball without requiring them to give up every treat or live perfectly.
BETTER TOGETHER
Paul's participation made the process supportive and fun. Small food choices became visible, practical progress.
THE NEXT CHOICE
Anne's story shows how curiosity and one practical tool can make healthy decisions feel lighter. Her most surprising discovery was not how much she had to change, but how manageable the next choice could be.
David & Sandy James
Couples Champions
Journey Animals: Wolf Pair
No one has to carry the journey alone.
"We don't quit. We may slow down, sit, and catch our breath. Then we continue."
STRONGER TOGETHER
After decades of demanding work, extensive travel, family responsibilities, and stress, David and Sandy made a life-changing decision. David retired at 65 instead of waiting until 70, and together they began building a healthier retirement.
MOVEMENT THROUGH PLAY
Recumbent trikes and disc golf turned movement into something they genuinely wanted to do. Together they lost more than 150 pounds, faced David's heart challenges with courage, and created days filled with rides, games, laughter, and time together.
SIDE BY SIDE
Their story is not about becoming competitive athletes. It is about finding activities they love, slowing down when needed, catching their breath, and continuing side by side.
A RIPPLE EFFECT
Their example encouraged family and friends to begin moving too.