Name: Matthew Kinzinger

I'm part of: When I was younger, I decided to help researchers at the hospital learn more about how to get kids with heart problems more active. Now I ride my bike, play soccer, go hiking, play golf and go camping in the summer. In the winter I love to skate, toboggan and cross country ski. I also lift weights, and help with chores and snow shoveling.

#1 Health Goal: To keep my heart healthy and strong by being active every day. 

Biggest Challenge: The hardest part of being active every day for me is keeping up with other kids who can run faster or who are really competitive.

Biggest Accomplishment: When I was a baby I was in the hospital a lot and I had a hard time learning to walk and run and do other activities. Every year I worked on getting better and then went to see a physiotherapist who tested my muscles and what I could do. When I was helping with the research study, I was given different activities and exercises to do at home each week. Some of them I liked, and some I didn't like. If I didn't like an activity my Mom would change it to make it more fun. After 1 year the study was over and when I went back to the physiotherapist that had tested me since I was a baby she couldn't believe how much I could do. She asked my Mom "What happened to him?". Being in the study helped my body to learn how to be active, so that now I can hang out with my friends and do lots of active things. 

I will continue to Live Right Now by: Learning to play tennis this summer. Improving my golf game. Playing soccer at recess with my friends.

Personal Tip for Canadians: That you don't have to be the best, just do the best that you can do and have fun.