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Home > About Us > Publications > Minnesota: Healthy Heart

Minnesota: Healthy Heart
TV Fitness Expert Finds Greatest Joy in Sponsoring Children

Fitness expert Kim Parmater Pederson says the best way to a healthy heart is to reach out and help others.

If you have ever flicked on the TV and seen Kim Parmater Pederson pitching one of her new fitness machines at break-neck speed, you might find it hard to believe that she could have enough energy to devote her time to anything else.

But the creator of "Easy Shaper" — now used by hundreds of thousands of women in American homes — says while she's found it rewarding to help people find a healthier lifestyle, she is far more interested in sponsoring needy children in the developing world.

"My passion for these kids far outweighs my passion for creating new equipment and selling it," she says.

Appropriately enough, Kim, 41, first got the idea to sponsor children after watching an infomercial on late-night TV nearly 20 years ago.

She started sponsoring two children then vowed she would sponsor two more for every new piece of equipment she created. Currently she sponsors 23 and hopes one day to sponsor 50.

Kim says a huge part of the appeal of sponsoring is to be able to see the dramatic improvement in the children’s welfare and that of their families.

"When you sponsor a child you change lives. There are lots of wonderful causes, but this is one where you get that immediate sense of joy."

Such experiences convinced Kim she needed to share her passion with others. To this end she organized the 29,000 Steps for Children national walking event to be held on June 10 at venues around the country.

Kim is appealing for individuals to walk 11 miles or 29,000 steps — representing the 29,000 children who die each day from poverty-related causes — to draw attention to the plight of impoverished children. At the same time participants will be encouraged to underline their commitment by sponsoring a child.
Kim says sadly most people in the United States are simply unaware that so many children die each day from entirely preventable causes.

"It just rips your heart out. We must do something about it."


	*Get Involved* Sponsor a child. Share sponsorship with your church.

1-888-511-6548 : P.O. Box 9716
Federal Way, WA 98063-9716

Who Is World Vision?
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.

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