Page 124 - HCPVitalityChronicles

Racing for the Cure and Racing to Improve Their Health:
Maria Williams and Natalie Barker-Amos

Teammates Maria Williams and Natalie Her own personal motivation to keep moving
Barker-Amos are gearing up for an event is in part an ode to her father, who lived to be
they feel strongly about co-leading and par- 102. She remembers her father playing golf,
ticipating in. Maria and Natalie invite all tennis, basically all sports, which is how Maria
teammates, families, and friends to join in grew up, always athletic and active in sports
the DaVita Medical Group team for the such as basketball, softball, and badminton. “I
Susan G. Komen Los Angeles Race for the learned that it’s fun to stay active, and I have
Cure, Saturday, March 10 at Dodger Sta- always needed to keep moving,” she said.
dium. This year’s event celebrates breast Natalie’s efforts to improve her own health
cancer survivors—and Maria is walking for have positively affected some of her family
her sister, a breast cancer survivor. members. Due to Natalie’s encouragement,
“Come to the event and walk with us as a her mother has lost 70 pounds and feels so
team; it is a beautiful event,” encouraged much better. Her sister’s healthier habits have
Natalie, Business Analyst 2, Claims Depart- led to her being taken off of one medication
ment, who has been with the organization she had been taking. “I am always talking
for seven years. Maria Williams (front) and about health to them,” Natalie said. She thinks
Although she is not an official champ of Natalie Barker-Amos (back). not only of now but living healthy into the fu-
the Vitality wellness program, Natalie is a ture. When she sees seniors walking or jogging
champ in her own way. She brings healthy snacks, such as at the park, she gives them a high five. “That is what I want
bananas, to work to share with others. When she has to be doing when I am 75 or 80.”
made a healthy dish at home, she brings that to share as Both Natalie and Maria enjoy the incentives of the Vital-
well. “We have to eat better and healthier,” she said. ity wellness program, but they try to encourage healthy
After some recent life changes caused her to gain some habits for all teammates, whether or not they are mem-
weight, Natalie is determined to lose it, and she has lost bers of the Vitality program. They have recently started
about half of her goal already in part due to the weight encouraging some teammates in management to take a
loss challenge going on at her site headed by Isaac Peart. 15-minute walk during the work day to clear their head.
He sends healthy foods and exercise suggestions via group Natalie walks during all three work breaks, and then more
text to those in the challenge. With her Apple Watch and once she gets home.
through the Vitality Active Rewards program, Natalie seeks “Especially as we age, it is not good to be sitting all of the
to walk 15,000 steps a day Monday through Saturday, and time,” Maria said. “Weight doesn’t come off as easily. It is
10,000 steps on Sunday. important to get out, get into the air, just go out and walk
Maria, Senior Claims Specialist, who has been with the a little. It is up to individuals to partake in it.”
organization for 16 years, also loves the motivation of the Register for the March 10 Race for the Cure at komenla-
Apple Watch. “It makes me stand up and walk—it’s a con- county.org/race. Join the HealthCare Partners team. For
stant reminder to keep moving,” she said. more information on the event, click here.

All information in the Vitality program is HIPAA protected. Members have chosen to share their personal health accomplishments.
For more information about the Vitality program, visit www.powerofvitality.com or contact Janet Galli.