West Newsmagazine 2-7-18

FACEBOOK.COM/WESTNEWSMAGAZINE
WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
February 7, 2018
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
I SCHOOLS I 21
Local teen embarks on mission to help others through dance
By ELLEN LAMPE
At just 15 years old, Flynn Kehm is
wise beyond her years. The freshman at
Rockwood Summit High founded her own
organization more than four years ago,
embarking on a mission of spreading joy
and opportunity for others to do something
they love.
The organization is called Born To
Dance. It seeks to provide underprivileged
and disabled individuals with dance attire,
free of charge.
“I started [Born To Dance] in fifth grade.
As I got older and started to mature, I realized
that there are people in the world that
aren’t as fortunate,” Flynn explained.
Flynn’s passion for dance led her to
another passion – helping others.
“I wanted to connect the world through
dance. There are other people who love to
dance but don’t have the opportunity or the
money,” Flynn said.
children. It is Flynn’s hope that the donated
items will restore a sense of normalcy and
happiness for the youth of Puerto Rico,
giving them the opportunity to dance and
smile amid hardship.
The January donation event was made
possible, in part, by a generous donation
made in the name of Natalie Timm. Timm
was a talented member of Eureka High’s
dance team who truly loved the sport and
had a kind heart.
“She got in a car accident and passed
By Dick Smothers
away,” Flynn said. “An anonymous person
made a donation in her name to carry on
her good heart and remember her.”
During the drive, Timm’s parents made
a surprise visit to see Flynn and her fellow
volunteers. They didn’t come emptyhanded,
either; they donated some of
Timm’s old dance outfits to the drive.
“There wasn’t a dry eye in there,” Bonny
said, of the touching moment.
The event also was supported by a
Disney Summer of Service grant through
Youth Service America.
“I’m humbled to be one of 270 young
leaders across the country awarded this
grant to organize projects to help make
their communities healthier, greener and
stronger,” Flynn said.
On Pointe Dance, which donated close to
$6,000 in new items to the drive, is accepting
donations for Born To Dance year-round.
For more information about the Born
To Dance organization, visit www.borntodance.org.
I love 20 Minutes to Fitness. Here’s why.
I get a special joy from the fact that I’m doing something for myself that I know is helping me become a
stronger, more fit, 75-plus-year-old.
I first came to 20 Minutes to Fitness in 2008, and it was like nothing I had ever experienced in my life. I had
been around gyms for many years, and I was quite aware of all sorts of workout philosophies, but never this
one. In and out in about 20 minutes? This I had to see. I saw it and I’m still here.
In 2011, I embarked on an extended road trip in my RV that took me to the West Coast and points in
between, and I couldn’t keep up my workout program. I didn’t pick it up again until 2 years later. I knew
that I had lost some muscle mass and was curious to see how soon I could get it back. I was amazed!
Flynn Kehm [second from left] and volunteers
collect donations.
A main pillar of Born To Dance is seeking
to give others a means to dance, even
in the darkest of times. In light of that, Flynn’s
organization hosted a donation drive
to benefit youth and families in Puerto
Rico who have been devastated by Hurricane
Maria.
“I do two donation drives a year. It’s a lot
of work, but I love doing it,” Flynn said.
The drive, which took place on Saturday,
Jan. 27 at On Pointe Dance, was a great
success. Close to $10,000 in donations of
new and gently used dance attire and other
accessories were collected, and the donations
still are coming in, Flynn’s mother,
Bonny, said.
“It was a great drive. It was quite something,”
Bonny said. “[Flynn’s] first drive
was 4 or 5 years ago and started with just
one donation. It’s grown from there.”
It has grown, to say the least. The organization
has expanded beyond dance, as it
recently has begun collecting figure skating
donations as well.
The donations from the drive will be sent
to a school for performing arts in Puerto
Rico in hopes of easing the psychological
toll the hurricane has had on families and
With every session I get stronger. My stronger body makes my life easier and more enjoyable.
My trainer is an excellent coach, and I think accepts the fact that I like to talk while I’m working out. But
that’s just how I do it. It’s not mandatory to be a motor mouth.
I’ll ask her things like, “Did you add weight? How much? How much time did I do last time? How much
time have I done so far? Is that all? You’re kidding. I don’t think I can do anymore!” She’ll say, “Yes you
can, try one more.” I try, I do one more, and it is not easy, but quite often I find enough strength to do
another one after that.
That’s what it’s all about. That’s the genius of this program. I exhaust my muscle groups with a high weight
for my ability and a low number of slow repetitions. Once a week. I don’t have to do three sets of ten, two to
three times a week at the gym. This is a medically based, scientifically proven training program performed
on unique specialized equipment with extremely knowledgeable coaches in a non-gym environment.
I bike, swim, stand up paddle-board, dance, yoga, meditate, take naps and more. I live with a great sense
of gratitude of the blessings God has given me. I don’t take anything for granted, including my muscles.
Since I added “20 Minutes to Fitness” to my life, I’m doing just fine, thank you!!!!!
About the author: Now living in Sarasota, Dick Smothers is best known for
being the younger half of the musical comedy team the Smothers Brothers. He
has trained at 20 Minutes to Fitness in Sarasota since 2008.
For more information on 20 Minutes to Fitness, call its studios in Clayton (314-863-7836),
Chesterfield (636-536-1504), or Sarasota or Tampa, Fla., or visit www.20minutestofitness.com.