It took less than 10 seconds for Yvonne Savage and Thom Hunter to accept The Gazette’s Healthy Challenge. ‘‘It’s not every day someone calls you up and says, ‘Here’s $25,000 worth of stuff to help you change your life,’” says Yvonne. ‘‘You’d be crazy to turn it down.”

Yvonne and Thom were among some 800 Montgomery County residents with a body mass index over 25 who entered the newspaper’s second annual sweepstakes. Last year’s winners – Erin Grace and Rod Gonzaga – lost a combined total of 50 pounds. They also dramatically improved their health, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels while losing fat and increasing lean muscle mass.

During a meeting with Cliff Chiet, The Gazette’s vice president of sales and general manager, Yvonne and Thom learned the details of the program -- $25,000 worth of goods and services in exchange for their pledge to improve their health. The Gazette ‘‘showed a tremendous commitment and professionalism to helping the participants in our quest toward not only weight loss but also a healthy lifestyle,” wrote Thom in his journal.

About Thom Age: 63 Lives in Montgomery Village Height: 5‘10‘‘ Weight: about 195 BMI: 28 (estimated)

Over the next 12 weeks Yvonne and Thom will journey through a world many simply dream of – one with personalized trainers and nutritionists; health screenings; yoga, dance, tennis, and martial arts classes; and dermatological, dental and day-spa services. They will work hard, but be pampered in the process.

Those who will prod and pamper were on hand to meet the two winners at The Healthy Challenge Kickoff at White Flint Mall on St. Patrick’s Day. More than two dozen sponsors explained their roles to Yvonne and Thom. ‘‘The occasion made me feel like a prince that was at his coronation,” wrote Thom. ‘‘All of the sponsors I met were truly committed to making my transformation happen. This was not just an event where companies attended to promote their companies, products and services. These folks really care.”

There won’t be any extreme makeovers, but both Yvonne and Thom are confident they will improve thei

Thom’s Story

Fit throughout most of his 63 years, Thom eventually succumbed to the pressures of his job and a sweet tooth. Meanwhile, his lack of a steady exercise partner dampened his enthusiasm for physical activity.

Thom learned of the Healthy Challenge from his wife Eula Wilturner-Hunter. ‘‘She told me about it and, yes, I followed her advice and entered online.

Sporting 195 lbs. on his 5-foot 10-inch frame, Thom’s body mass index (BMI) of 28 classifies him as overweight, but not obese. His goal is to drop his BMI by five points through a combination of exercise and weight loss. ‘‘Weight loss is an important aspect of this journey but it is not the most important element to me,” he says. ‘‘Core strength, flexibility, range of motion, and better overall general health are my priorities. I don’t just want to look slim and fit, I want to be fit.” He also hopes to enhance his resistance to illness and injury.

Having suffered from a severely herniated disk for 20 years, Thom underwent surgery to alleviate the pain. ‘‘My back is okay now,” he says, ‘‘but my muscles are tight, especially my hamstrings which were shortened.”

No stranger to physical activity, Thom enjoys tennis, skiing, ballroom dancing, and golf. He plans to incorporate several of these activities into his Healthy Challenge journey. While it has been more than 30 years since he has practiced the martial art, Thom holds a fourth degree brown belt in gogureu.

Flexibility and suppleness are extremely important to Thom as a member of the U.S Coast Guard Auxiliary. A certified coxswain, he spends roughly 12 hours a month on safety patrols in the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay. While the Healthy Challenge may temporarily limit his participation in some of the Auxiliary’s events, Thom plans to return to a full slate of volunteer activities in July.

A native of New York, Thom has lived in Maryland for the past 17 years. He currently works as a senior program manager for Paratek Microwave, Inc. in Columbia. Thom and Eula reside in Montgomery Village. His daughter and three grandchildren live in Houston, Texas.

Thom is interested in sharing his experiences with as wide and diverse an audience as possible. To that end, he is exploring options for taking and responding to questions as he pursues his Healthy Challenge. ‘‘If someone with a question sees me on the street, I hope they’ll stop me,” he says. ‘‘I’m happy to talk. My hope is that someone, somewhere will be inspired by what I end up doing. If I change one life, in addition to my own, I’ll feel as though I’ve made a true difference.”

Read about Yvonne Savage of Silver Spring, who also won the Healthy Challenge.

Back to Healthy Challenge main page