Mission
Create a social organization for people who have undergone open heart surgery, and their supporters, to come together and exercise jointly, at the volume and intensity they are capable of according to their own physicians’ instructions. An organization which celebrates life, fitness, and recovery from open heart surgery in a supportive and welcoming environment.
Vision
We see a world where people who have had open heart surgery discover what they can do, and join together to support one another in doing what they are capable of. We believe that both exercise and social connection are invaluable tools for recovery.
Conscience
We are not physicians, nurses, cardiologists, exercise physiologists, or any other kind of healthcare professionals. We are not fitness coaches. We do not encourage or challenge any member to go faster, further, or harder. We only support each member as they do what is right for themselves, according to their own personal instructions from their medical providers. We make no representation of safety. Each member is solely responsible for their own health and safety as they exercise.
Anyone who is not healthy enough or cleared by their own medical providers to exercise may not participate.
By-Laws
- Any person or persons who accept the Mission, Vision, and Conscience (M, V, & C), and these by-laws, may start a chapter of the Open Heart Track Club (OHTC) by submitting their details through the website.
- There are no dues or fees for membership, but each group may collect voluntary donations to cover expenses such as track reservations.
- Each group is independent as long as they adhere to the by-laws and M, V, & C.
- OHTC is non-professional, and no member or leader may represent themselves on behalf of the OHTC as a health care professional or physical trainer.
- No member or leader may serve as a physical trainer or health care provider for any member.
- The only requirement for membership is having undergone open heart surgery.
- The only requirement for participation is desiring to support those who have undergone open heart surgery.
- Leaders are servants and organizers, they do not govern.
- OHTC has no official opinion on any issue, and does not advocate for any specific conditions, surgeries, approaches to recovery, or politics.
- Every meeting of OHTC should open with the statement: “We support and inspire each other, we do not challenge each other. We are each responsible for our own health and safety.”