For the past three years Heather Hawk-Funk, her husband, and her friend Megan have participated in the Cleveland, OH Walk from Obesity. Heather learned about the Walk from Obesity through a support group in her area and from ASMBS member Karen Schulz.

Heather told us she weighed over 300 pounds and needed to do something to get her life back. That is when she decided to have a RNY Gastric Bypass and eventually skin removal surgery. “I was having medical issues, such as sleep apnea, that made it difficult for me to travel. I also have a neuromuscular disorder called Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) Disease which makes it harder for me to complete certain tasks. I blamed a lot of my medical issues on CMT and didn’t take into account how much stress my weight was putting on my joints.”

Since having the surgery Heather says she has her life back. “Losing weight helped me to become a better teacher, I could be more active with my students, and I actually earned a new job as school principal. When I was heavy, I would not have been able to do this job!” She says she is now able to travel more and doesn’t have to carry around a CPAP machine. However, her best achievement has been accomplishing her fitness goals, including completing her first 10K last May.

We asked Heather why she participated in the Walk from Obesity. “I wanted to participate in the walk to continue to work on my fitness goals. My first walk was in 2014 and my goal was to complete the one mile option. Walking with my friends and family, I actually exceeded my goal and walked two miles. For me this was a HUGE feat. I was so proud of myself that I went home and signed up for my first 5K, which I completed the next month. I used to have the attitude that I couldn’t because I had CMT, where now I know my CMT can’t stop me from being healthy.”

For Heather the Walk from Obesity gave her a sense of accomplishment and empowerment. “I loved having my support system there as well as the medical staff who took such great care of me. One of the best parts about the Walk from Obesity is that it’s not a timed event and you can choose your distance. For those of us just getting up and moving, this is a nice place to start!”

We asked Heather what she would tell others who are unsure about participating in the Walk and she said “take the plunge! You will never know what you can accomplish until you try!” Heather also encourages others to share their stories.

Thank you Heather for your support over the last three years! We hope to see you again this year!

Share Your Experience with Other Walkers

We are looking for individuals, teams, and past Walk Leaders who would be interested in sharing their Walk from Obesity story with us. Your story could inspire others to participate in a Walk or even motivate someone to bring the Walk from Obesity to their community .

Share Your Story