AIM Directors Darlene and Kees Vandermey have been sharing nutrition that works for years, supporting the health of others as well as their own.

An avid bicyclist, Darlene was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 1990. She was told she would never cycle again, but bike riding remains a vital part of her exercise routine to this very day.

“Kees and I cycle between 25 and 40 km, three times a week,” Darlene stated, “and we are both in our 70s. Along with taking the Garden Trio and a ProPeas smoothie daily, we are fueled for riding by the Sports Pack, so we also get Peak Endurance and extra RediBeets.”

As members of Gale Presbyterian Church, Darlene and Kees support a nonprofit organization called Presbyterian World Service and Development (PWS&D). In 2020, Darlene found out about the PWS&D’s annual Ride for Refuge that raises money for world mission projects.

She organized a small group named after their church affiliation, and the Gale Riders joined the 25 kilometer Ride for Refuge in 2020. The group also participated in the 2021 event, once again following all health protocols for cycling during the pandemic.

Due to their efforts, the Gale Riders have raised nearly $7,000 in total, funds that go toward food security projects for farmers worldwide and other world mission needs.

"I made lifestyle changes that included regular intake of a variety of AIM products, all of which helped improve my health."

Diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in 2016, AIM Director Char Pelfrey found herself in a long, uphill climb to reclaim her health. She followed medical protocols through to completion, including multiple surgeries.

“My stamina was gone,” Char related, “and even as I recovered from the operations, I still had no energy.” Crossing paths with AIM Star Sapphire Director Cindy Ponchot-Watson, Char adopted a primarily plant-based diet, incorporating a variety of AIM products including the Garden Trio and CoCoa LeafGreens. What followed is truly inspiring.

In the summers of 2020 and 2021, Char and her husband, Jerry, traveled west to hike over 200 miles in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest and Utah. “There we were, hiking ‘mountain’ miles daily instead of walking ‘mall’ miles,” Char exclaimed. “Peak Endurance mixed with RediBeets helped increase our energy levels. The next morning I’d wake up and feel as good as I did the day before.”

The perspective that Char has on life as a result of her own health crisis is one of immense gratitude. “I’m so thankful for every new day that I’m blessed to have with Jerry, our children and grandchildren,” stated Char. “It’s so incredible to me that my strength returned and I can do things that would have been too strenuous just a few years ago. People need to be encouraged: you can reclaim your health.”

"We get one shot at the life God has given us. Why would we do anything less than respect that gift by providing our bodies with the nutrition and exercise that we know sustain us?"

AIM Group Builder Daniel Matthews has been a paramedic for nine years. During that time, he has witnessed many patients struggling with their health. And then there’s his energetic, 90-year-old grandfather.

“Wilbur Matthews has always lived a very healthy lifestyle,” Daniel stated. “Every time I’d go to my grandfather’s house, he’d show me something about health and nutrition that I could be doing. He’s been taking AIM products for more than 30 years.”

Daniel, who lives with his wife and four children in Fredericton, New Brunswick, decided to get the message out to people of all ages. His methodology included building his re-think-health website, blogging, writing articles and creating a podcast and a YouTube channel.

“I had looked into AIM products really hard, wanting to make sure they were as natural as possible,” Daniel said. “AIM really cares about getting quality nutrition into people. Our kids really love them, and they give me a noticeable boost in energy and nutrition that I can’t go without.”

"Taking the AIM products is a family priority because they help us so much."

AIM Group Builder Lora Wishart has a passion for teaching and inspiring others to increase their plant-based food intake. As an elementary school teacher, Lora teaches her students about being stewards of the environment and choosing healthy food.

Lora and her husband, Gord, have a 20-acre farm, where their four children learn about sourcing their own food - from preparing the soil to harvesting and canning the produce.

"We grow a lot more produce than we need as a family, so we take a large amount to a local women's shelter and a food bank each week." Lora also set up the Good Food Box at Sacred Heart School, where once a month area farmers drop off their harvests and the school community can then purchase reasonably priced produce.

"Along with living an active lifestyle, we aim for health by growing our own food, increasing our plant-based intake and being proactive instead of reactive in our choice of AIM products."

AIM Member Helene McKoy has always had a strong desire to help others. As a university student, she mentored teens and helped to create a summer learning program. Along with being a guidance counselor for eight years, Helene assisted in starting a ladies’ group and aided in a teen parenting program, serving as a role model for young mothers.

Her desire to help others continues to this day. “I enthusiastically share the good news of the gospel. I have given out hundreds of Christian books, links to sermons and bible studies, and prayed for people.”

Growing up in Barbados led Helene in a health-oriented direction that began with wholesome, island nutrition. She became an Adventist at age 12 and switched to vegetarian food.

Today, a combination of mostly plant-based nutrition and regular exercise remain important lifestyle choices for Helene.

With a master’s in education, she now mentors students and assists people in making healthy lifestyle changes. When she shares her knowledge of nutrition and AIM products, Helene is able to present a healthy example of the message she delivers.

"I am constantly recommending dietary changes and AIM products, especially BarleyLife and Herbal Fiberblend. I always let people know that I take these products and that you get more for your money with AIM."

AIM Director Emily Layton personally knows that out of the most painful experiences can come beautiful things. She ended up having a business that greatly serves people’s nutritional needs as a result of her 13-year-old daughter's health issues.

Within a few months of starting on the Garden Trio, AIMega, Frame Essentials, PrepZymes and CoCoa LeafGreens, her daughter began to feel like herself again. Today she is thriving.

Emily gratefully acknowledges her sponsor, AIM Director Elizabeth Walter, for introducing her to AIM nutrition. “It has been so life-changing, and not only for my daughter. My whole family has experienced health benefits.”

When friends and family reached out for help, AIM nutrition worked for them as well. Emily began incorporating AIM products into boxes of plant-based food to provide smoothies and meals that people order and pay for through her Instagram page. “When someone doesn’t know what to do nutritionally, it’s so much easier to be handed a box of wholesome nourishment. This all happened organically, and I really love doing it.”

"It’s not about what you cut out, it’s more about what you get in your body. I’m just so confident in the AIM products and the power of plants."

AIM Preferred Member Danae Dolinsky-Songy is an aerial silk acrobat and trains students at a nearby university. She is also an NASM certified personal trainer and a corrective exercise specialist. Every Sunday without fail, she runs a 5K for health reasons.

Danae is extremely self-motivated and though her day job keeps her in the radio station as a DJ and trainer for students on how-to-do radio, her first passion has always been exercise.

Diagnosed with MS in 2013, she is currently living medication-free thanks to a healthy lifestyle, which AIM helps to support nutritionally.

"I want to see if my mile will get better and whether I have more energy on the silks to keep up with my students."

In addition to doing Christian volunteer work, AIM Directors Frank and Bernadette Pickett have been teaching the joyful world of ballroom dancing for over 17 years.

Before the Picketts began taking AIM nutrition, they were dealing with health issues. “When our chiropractor introduced us to AIM’s barley leaf juice powder, we could see a big difference very quickly."

When Herbal Fiberblend was released, taking it helped Bernadette to prepare her for the emotional year that followed. “Our three daughters all got married within four months, and my mother passed away on the wedding day of our youngest daughter.”

Today, AIM nutrition continues to play an important role in helping Frank and Bernadette maintain good health. "We have used all of the AIM products off and on, and, on a daily basis, we most regularly take the Garden Trio, AIMega, ProPeas and Frame Essentials—to keep our joints agile."

"We are so thankful that God has blessed us for over 37 years with many excellent, healthy, energy-building AIM products that continue to build and restore our bodies."