Maureen Team Rider
Riding The Tour in	Bloomfield, CT to Scranton, PA
Riding out of	Guilford, CT
Motivation for joining The Tour	I have two teenage daughters. My oldest daughter had a stroke at birth and has cerebral palsy. My youngest daughter has asthma and allergies. Growing up in today's fast paced and stressful society is difficult. Far too often, good eating habits and exercise fall by the wayside to other responsibilities and obligations. It did for me for years. I hope as my daughters see me take responsibility for my own health and well-being, they will also adopt a healthier and more active lifestyle. I also believe that when they see me do this, they will know they can do anything they set their minds to! As a Registered Nurse, this is an amazing opportunity to educate others, share my story and potentially inspire someone to make a change in their own life.
Reasons for adopting an active lifestyle	Genetically speaking, I do not have a great family medical history. I realized my health was headed in the wrong direction about a year and a half ago. At that time I was overweight, always tired and generally didn't feel well. I finally decided that I had to do something different and joined the gym. Now, thirty pounds later, I feel great and have more energy than ever.
Why a healthy lifestyle is important	I want to enjoy my life with my children, family and friends. If I wanted to "grow older gracefully" and live as healthy and a long as of life as possible, I needed to get moving.
One piece of advice to help others live a healthier life	Set realistic goals, make small changes in your lifestyle and be proud of your accomplishments!