richard-simmons.jpgPrairie Heart Institute at St. John's Hospital in Springfield is bringing fitness guru Richard Simmons back to Springfield to lead an exercise class at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Dirksen Parkway in Springfield, on Saturday, Feb. 21.
This year's American Heart Month program held at the Crowne Plaza will accommodate 1,000 in the class, with three ballrooms opened up to one huge space.
"We had over 1,600 people register for the class last year, but there was simply not enough room. The space could only accommodate 250," St. John's spokesman Brian Reardon said.
Four central Illinois hospitals in the Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) will bus people from their local communities to St. John's event. The other hospitals are St. Mary's in Decatur, St. Francis in Litchfield, St. Anthony's Memorial in Effingham and St. Mary's in Streator (in the Peoria diocese).
As part of registration for a chance to get a ticket to the free class, everyone is required to take a seven-minute heart risk assessment. Those with one or more risk factors will be entered twice in the registration drawing for tickets. Registration and the risk factor assessment can be completed on-line at www.prairieheart.com, or at health fairs at the participating HSHS hospitals
St. Anthony's will hold its heart fair Friday, Feb. 13, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the hospital's auditorium. Earlier fairs and health screenings were held at St. Francis, St. Mary's in Decatur and at St. John's.
"At St. Anthony's Memorial we provide excellent care for those in our community who need medical treatment," community relations associate Lisa Hoelscher said. "At the same time, we know prevention is vital for a healthy life. We want to give people in the Effingham area the tools they need to improve their cardiac and overall health."
"Richard Simmons was very, very motivating last year," said Reardon. "He has a unique wit about it, and offered simple steps people can do to change their lifestyles and start exercising."
When the exercise session was over last year, Simmons spent 45 minutes talking to the crowd, motivating and inspiring them.
"He really cares about people, and it shows," said Reardon. "We're getting calls every day from people who were there last year."