A Game Changer

In April of 2010, Thomas Abraham went to the doctor with chest pains. He took a stress test, but he did not last more than two minutes on the treadmill. By July of that year he tipped the scales at nearly 200 pounds. With the chest pain scare, extra weight and a history of diabetes in his family, Thomas knew it was time for a change. He made a commitment to himself and by October of that year he lost 50 pounds by changing his diet and getting active. Along the way, he ran his first 5K as part of the Kaiser Permanente Corporate Run/Walk & Fitness Program (KPCRW).

Today at a fit 171 pounds, he is celebrating his fourth year as the captain of Team Sheraton Atlanta. He is an active member of the Atlanta Track Club and runs a race every month. Along with his team captain duties, he is the Director of Revenue Management for the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel. He has worked for the world-wide hotel brand for more than seven years.

Under Thomas’ leadership, the KPCRW team at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel has grown from nine team members to the 53 that are currently training and will participate in the culminating 5K on September 11 through downtown Atlanta.

Thomas leverages social media to connect his colleagues and team members and to inspire. He also promotes the LA Fitness and boot camp offers provided by the KPCRW as part of the complimentary 8-week training program. At the hotel, department heads are encouraged to participate and to motivate colleagues via weekly email communication and intra-departmental incentives. Individual and group walks after lunch are also organized to help the team commit to 10,000 steps a day.

Senior management at the Sheraton Atlanta is also very involved. Thomas started a ‘Sponsor a Walker’ program by first asking managers to walk the 5K and if they could not, he would ask them to sponsor an hourly team member. Last year 10 managers participated as a sponsor. This year that number has doubled. In addition to the sponsorship program, the company provides round-trip transportation from the hotel to Turner Field and healthy snacks and drinks for the team.

A passionate and innovative team captain such as Thomas along with support from his company’s leadership, have been key to Team Sheraton Atlanta’s growth and to the long-term benefits of a more fit and healthy workplace.

Thomas points to one particular team member, Tafadzwa, who participated in the KPCRW for the first time last year. He started walking and training for the 5K and lost more than 100 pounds in seven months. Tafadzwa no longer works for Sheraton but Thomas ran into him in the spring at an Atlanta Track Club race where he thanked Thomas for believing in him. The KPCRW has proved to be a game changer for many like Thomas and Tafadzwa.