Special Edition - In Memorium - Dr. Toni Yancey - May 01,2013

Dr. Toni Yancy recently passed after a battle with cancer. She was one of the first guest on "The Wellness Journey!" about 3 years ago. Dr. Yancey became a supporter of the show. She was gracious and kind...a truely phenomenal woman. Toni was an extraordinary life force who made an impact on everyone she knew – from those who only met her once, to those who considered her a lifelong friend. Born and raised in Kansas City,KS, Toni was a true renaissance woman who excelled in her many pursuits: at 6'2” a Division 1 basketball player during her undergraduate years at Northwestern,a former model, a poet and author, and a physician. But she was most passionate about her work as a public health researcher and activist.Toni was committed to improving the health of vulnerable populations and devoted her career to eliminating health disparities. She created “Instant Recess®”, a program that calls for a grassroots approach to“making America healthier 10 minutes at a time.” Her idea to incorporate brief bouts of physical activity into daily routine whether at school or work or worship, earned her numerous awards including the Pioneering Innovation Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She was one of a handful of national thought leaders asked to serve on the board of directors of the Partnership for a Healthier America, the non-profit that guided First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign. Toni, thank you for your support and your enthusiasm! I will miss you and so will the rest of the country. Rest in peace.