Meet our Community Advisory Board
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Alana Cohen
I'm Alana Cohen, a proud mother of four and happily married for 40 years. For over two decades, I had a garden design business. I also worked as a social worker in medical, psychiatric, and substance abuse settings. Most recently, I've started a support group with the theme of living a fulfilled life while managing the challenges of a physical disability.
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Blake Hunt
My name is Blake Hunt and I am an eSports professional gamer, as well as a tap dancer in my free time. I have been doing these things for the past few years and has been a great pleasure of mine. I love to workout and hang out with my friends. Some of my favorite pastimes are eating food and playing chess when I’m not spending time with my family.
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Sondra Crummell
My name is Sondra. I'm a wife and mother of two adult daughters. I also have a fur baby cat named Billie. I love trying new restaurants with family and friends. I retired from my custom cake side business but still love to bake delicious treats.
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Nancy Hanson
In January 2015 Nancy Hanson, was injured in a car accident while working. Her diagnosis after surgery was an incomplete quadriplegic C-5/6. After months of acute therapy at Mount Sinai she‘s since dedicated the past 8 years to daily assorted therapies, working to regain as much mobility and ability as possible. During Covid, when facilities were closed, SitGrit was the only structured therapy available. The instructors lessons proved amazing results for Nancy and she added the program to her routine. She is currently working to be a master storyteller offering to share stories on diverse subject matters for a variety of audiences. Nancy is proud Mom to Eric, Nicholas, Adam, Lucas and Paris and happily called Nana to Scarlett and Skylar.
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Chris O’Donoghue
Chris O'Donoghue is an EMMY Award winning General Assignment Reporter and Investigative Producer for United Paramount Network, UPN 9 News, in the nation's number one television market, New York. O'Donoghue joined WWOR-TV in August 1987 from WJZ-TV in Baltimore, Maryland where he advanced to On-Air Soccer Commentator and then to General Assignment News Reporter. In addition Chris has taught at New York University as an Adjunct Professor of Journalism.
He came from his native home of Ireland to the U.S. in 1965 to pursue a career as a professional soccer player. But soon after he arrived in New York, the sudden onset of an undetected spinal condition affected Chris's legs and eventually led to paralysis and the use of a wheelchair by 1976. After earning a Bachelor's Degree in English at CCNY and a Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Psychology from NYU in 1981, Chris went on to manage and subsequently run his own rehabilitation consulting business. Before that Chris spent over ten years in the banking and insurance fields.
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Catherine Patterson
Hi. I am Catherine (Cathy) Patterson from Birmingham, Alabama. I am a mom of two grown children, Brooke and Patrick. Both are married now and this Nonni has four grandchildren with number five on the way.
I was a RN for thirty one years. The field of nursing I worked in was Cardiac Care Intensive Care Unit for the first ten years then went into home health nursing as a RN case manager.
Loved my career.
I was an avid marathon runner- ran Chicago marathon twice, NYC, Philadelphia, Marine Corp Marathon in D.C., Rocket City Marathon, Mercedes Marathon and ended my marathon running by qualifying for Boston Marathon. I ran the Boston marathon in 2014.
After an attack of being temporary paralyzed to left side of body I was diagnosed with a rare neuro autoimmune disease that affects the Central Nervous System called Neuro myelitis optica.
I love exercising daily by walking and strength training and SitGrit twice a week.
I am grateful to have met so many nice people in SitGrit.
In Memoriam
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Ken Young
Hello, my name is Ken. I’m a husband, dad to two daughters and granddad to four awesome grand-babies. We enjoy our family time and hanging out with friends. I enjoy using SitGrit, it’s easy enough for me to keep up with and offers a variety of exercise options.