NAME: Karen Evely AGE: 45 years MARITAL STATUS: Married – her husband also works at Brampton Assembly CHILDREN: daughter (11) and son (14)

NUMBER OF YEARS EMPLOYED WITH COMPANY: 17 years

CURRENT POSITION WITH COMPANY: Committ ee person – Union Representative

FIRST POSITION WITH COMPANY: Paint Shop – sealer deck

FAVOURITE COMPANY VEHICLE: Dodge Journey

Karen lives life to the fullest and has been able to make some really exciting lifestyle changes this year. The two main changes she has made are her eating healthy and gett ing active. Karen and her family have started to eat more fruits and vegetables, and are cutt ing back on junk food. Karen (and sometimes with her daughter) has been going to the gym three times a week and working with a personal trainer two times a week for the last year.

All these changes have paid off, as Karen has lost 50 pounds in 2009!!! She lost the weight because she was concerned about her health. She also wanted her family to take bett er care of their health. Karen and her husband are both committ ed to healthy living. Karen says both parents need to be on board for the changes to last and to model a healthy lifestyle to our kids.

Karen supports the WTW program. She believes it has been useful in helping her to make healthy choices. She participated in the Putt ing the Brakes on Diabetes at Chrysler Canada program in 2007. “It really hit home because of my family history with the disease”. She says that she reads the Health Issues Magazine and thinks that it provides her and her family with great health information. She and her husband have been able take the information that they have learned in the WTW program and use it to discuss their own health issues with their health care providers.

She says she is lucky because she has the support of her family, co-workers, and her trainer. She says she has more energy, and confi dence, and “that people treat you differently – more seriously”. This year she participated in the Princess Margaret Hospital Weekend to End Breast Cancer. This event consists of a 2-day, 60 km walk!! Karen has made many positive changes this year and has been able to enjoy some of the benefi ts that are part of a healthy lifestyle. Way to go, Karen!