Joy, 30, wowed the live audience during the national broadcast with a dramatically slimmed-down version of herself classically packaged in a bright blue dress that flattered her new arrangement of curves. The blonde, blue-eyed former weight lifter posted a total weight loss of 102 pounds and stood poised to claim top honors among contestants sent home during the season until Mike Messina, a cook who began the competition nearly 100 pounds heavier than Joy, skipped to the scales.
The final weigh-in revealed that, while Joy lost nearly 39 percent of herself — from 264 pounds down to 162 — during the competition, Messina went from 358 to 198, a 44 percent reduction that made Joy the runner-up.
The night of “almosts” continued for Joy as her “Team Pink” teammate and close friend on the show, Kim Nielson, finished second in the battle for the grand prize. A few weeks ago, Joy said she and Nielson, a former wrestler, developed a strong bond on the show as teammates — the only contestants without a family member also in the cast — and through their background as athletes. Joy was hoping for a “Team Pink” sweep, but Nielson placed second to Jeremy Britt, who went from 389 to 190 pounds, more than a 50 percent drop.
Joy will be back home Saturday, May 5, to take part in a Wellness Fair from noon to 4 p.m. at Earth Fare, 14021 Boren St., in Huntersville. A former teacher, Joy now works in the wellness and food service departments at Earth Fare and attributes much of her success on The Biggest Loser to the support and cooperation she received from the store’s management.
Helping Paws event set for Davidson
The Helping Paws Dog Show, designed to encourage the adoption of dogs from Project Halo, will be held Sunday, May 13, from noon to 2 p.m. on the Town Green in downtown Davidson.
The primary goal of the event is to raise funds for Project Halo while also offering the public an opportunity to adopt dogs from Project Halo, a no-kill shelter.
During the event, an non-traditional dog show will be held, with competitions for Best Trick, Best Groomed, Best Personality and Best in Show. Dogs and their two-footed friends are invited to register at the event to participate in the competitions. Fees are $10 per dog and $2 per human spectator. All proceeds go directly to Project Halo.
The Helping Paws Dog Show, the original student-led event of its type in the area, is the brainchild of Brooke Phillips, whose family adopted Roxie from Project Halo on Brooke’s 10th birthday, prompting her to host her first event when she was in the sixth grade. She is now a high school freshman. For more information, or to sign on as a sponsor, visit www.facebook.com/helpingpawsdogshow.
HealthReach clinic expands Iredell reach
The Board of Directors for the HealthReach Community Clinic has recently voted to expand its service area. The growing population in Iredell County coupled with the challenging economic environment has led to an increasing number of out-of-service area patients coming to the downtown Mooresville free clinic.
HealthReach Community Clinic has been serving patients in Mooresville, Troutman and Mt. Mourne since 2002. The non-profit clinic provides health care to low-income residents with no private or government health care insurance at little or no cost. HealthReach is a community-based and volunteer driven organization accommodating more than 4,000 patient visits per year, and distributing about 10,000 prescriptions. The expansion will allow the clinic to serve all residents of Iredell County.
The clinic provides services such as family practice medical care, chronic disease care, gastrointestinal specialty care and lab work. The HealthReach Pharmacy provides free, non-narcotic prescription drugs to its patients, and those of other free clinics. It also provides glucometers, hypodermics and test strips for their diabetic patients.
Any uninsured Iredell County resident in need of health care may call HealthReach at 704-663-1992 to make an appointment. HeathReach Community Clinic is at 400 E. Statesville Ave., Suite 300, in Mooresville. For more information, visit www.healthreachclinic.org.
