Chelsie Burks has been dancing since she was in preschool, but two years ago, she fell ill to a point where she couldn’t even go to school.
Eventually diagnosed with Posteral Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, which causes the heart rate to speed up by 30 or more beats per minute with little or no change in blood pressure, and can make it hard for those who have it to stand without the fear of fainting, Burks was prescribed a plan of action by doctors that included an exercise program.
George Goodloe, the fitness team leader at the Waynesboro YMCA, worked with Burks to devise a tailor-made fitness program for Burks.
“His workouts and care were key to my recovery and enabled me to resume all activities, including dance,” said Burks, who graduated from Waynesboro High School in 2015, and is now a sophomore at Shorter University (Rome, Ga.), where she is pursuing a degree in musical theater, with a minor in dance.
Burks has been a member of the Waynesboro YMCA since the age of 3.
“I started in the pre-school/ child care program and took some dance classes when they were offered. I learned to swim at the Y as well,” said Burks, who as a preteen and teen served as a volunteer helping her mother run the concession stand at youth basketball games on packed weekend days at the YMCA.
That volunteer spirit has traveled with her to Georgia. Despite a busy schedule as a college student with a heavy class load, dance and performing in musicals, Burks finds time to lend a helping hand to worthy causes, and looks forward to being able to do the same at the Y again soon.
“I know what the Y has done for me, and I look forward to the day when I can give back and help make a difference for someone else,” Burks said.
Story by Chris Graham
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