health

Meet b’s 2015 Fitness Heroes

Meet b’s 2015 Fitness Heroes

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It all started with a simple question we asked readers: “Who gets you in the best shape, Baltimore?”

We immediately realized it wasn’t as simple as we thought. Response — via Twitter, email, Facebook — was immediate and staggering. We received close to 600 nominations for your favorite workout leaders in just a matter of days, from big-name fitness centers and boutique gyms to yoga instructors and personal trainers.

And these people were much more than just someone telling you to get down and give them 20. Your responses were heartfelt and passionate — the nominees helped you lose 40 pounds, became personal friends who visited you in the hospital when you were ill. They inspire you, brighten your mood, make you feel like you can accomplish anything. And they make you sweat — a lot.

It was a difficult task narrowing down the men and women, your fitness heroes, we chose to profile. But it wasn’t difficult to see a clear answer to our original question. Who gets you in the best shape, Baltimore? It’s these devoted and passionate people. Read more about the fitness heroes.

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Cancer-stricken children find confidence with donated wigs

Cancer-stricken children find confidence with donated wigs

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Wigs, handmade by Italian-Chilean hair stylist Marcelo Avatte and his team, have helped children who have lost their hair during cancer treatments regain their self-esteem and confidence. Renowned for making customized wigs, Avatte has donated more than 300 wigs since 2009 and says he was motivated to begin the project by the pain he felt when his own son lost his hair during chemotherapy. (Photos by Rodrigo Garrido/Reuters)

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25th annual World AIDS Day commemorated

25th annual World AIDS Day commemorated

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Sunday brought the 25th commemoration of World AIDS Day, an event meant to boost awareness of the spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. UNAIDS, a United Nations program, estimates 1.6 million people died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2012.

Baltimore, where the Washington Monument was illuminated in red to mark World AIDS Day, is consistently ranked as having one of the nation’s top 10 urban HIV infection rates.

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Longtime Orioles usher Charlie Zill, battling lung cancer, honored at first-pitch ceremony, 7th-inning stretch

Longtime Orioles usher Charlie Zill, battling lung cancer, honored at first-pitch ceremony, 7th-inning stretch

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Battling lung cancer, Charlie Zill, the longtime Orioles usher celebrated by fans for dressing up in overalls and “Zillbilly” teeth and twirling a fake orange fiddle during the 7th-inning-stretch playing of “Thank God I’m a Country Boy,” just wanted to attend one more game. Wednesday night, he got that and more, throwing out the ceremonial pitch prior to the Orioles’ contest with the Tampa Bay Rays.

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World AIDS Day commemorated across the globe

World AIDS Day commemorated across the globe

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Since 1988, World AIDS Day has been held annually on December 1 to raise awareness of the spread of HIV/AIDS and its victims. Across the globe, people unite to show their support for people living with HIV and honor those who have died. Currently, according to the World Health Organization, 34 million people are living with HIV.

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33 Movember moustache inspirations

33 Movember moustache inspirations

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We’re halfway through November, which means many of you are close to sporting a full-out forest on your face. That’s right, it’s Movember, a month-long event that calls on those with follicly-gifted faces to raise money and awareness for “men’s health issues, specifically prostate and testicular cancer initiatives.

To inspire your hirsute pursuit, we’ve compiled a showcase of gentlemen who have made facial hair into an artform. And whether your ‘stache ambitions are geared toward the world stage, or if you’re just having some fun for a serious cause, we’d like to thank you not shaving.

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HIV in the American South: Q&A with ‘deepsouth’ documentary filmmaker Lisa Biagiotti

HIV in the American South: Q&A with ‘deepsouth’ documentary filmmaker Lisa Biagiotti

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The Darkroom interviews documentary filmmaker Lisa Biagiotti about “deepsouth,” a new documentary about HIV in the South premiering this week in Washington D.C. The premiere coincides with the week-long International AIDS Conference.
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