HOW SPEAKING TO KIDS LED TO A SECOND CAREER FOCUS

Since 1990, Tony has presented to more than 300,000 kids in some 400+ schools across America. But while developing into a master story teller who could motivate kids, he's also had a front row seat for the epidemic that is impacting American kids:

Every year, the kids in his audiences were noticeably LESS FIT than the the year before. This was true everywhere he went, across all cultures, demographics and age groups from kindergarten to college.

Feeling called to do more than just speak on health, Tony took action in 2004 and launched the MiracleKids Triathlon. The goal was to build a world-class race to motivate kids and inspire fundraising for families of kids fighting cancer. It worked. In the decade Tony led the event, a total of 12,500 kids raced and raised $4,500,000. Then Tony co-founded CycleHealth to introduce even more kids to adventure and the outdoors.

MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR THOUSANDS TO DISCOVER THE POWER OF CROSSING A FINISH LINE

In 2014, Tony co-founded a Minnesota non-profit named CycleHealth for the mission of inspiring more kids to put digital devices down and get active in the outdoors. In 2017, CycleHealth merged with the YMCA of the North in Minnesota where with Tony being the creative driver behind several one-of-a-kind adventure events that have impacted tens of thousands of kids.

Tony retired from the Y in November of 2022, but his legacy lives on today with the continued growth and expansion of the Y's Adventure Lab.

Visit YMCA ADVENTURE LAB

LEADING A NEW MOVEMENT THROUGH WORLD-CLASS ADVENTURE

In 2017, after 3 straight years of growth, CycleHealth happily merged with the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities. The goal... to reach more kids across the Twin Cities and eventually the whole nation.

Now known as the Y Adventure Lab, large-scale kid/adult adventure races are held in all 4 seasons. Over 15,000 participants have finished outdoor adventure events/challenges offered by the Y Adventure Lab.

NATION'S FIRST 'SWEAT Rx' ADOPTED BY PEDIATRICIANS

A natural partner was found in the Twin Cities' pediatrician community which was ready to prescribe our Sweat Challenge Contests to motivate their patient families.

Sweat Rx is now being prescribed in over 50 pediatric clinics across the Twin Cities who see so many positives in prescribing sweat to kids. The future plan is to bring the pediatrician-endorsed Sweat Rx to more clinics via YMCA communities all across America.