Heights Firefighter Teaches Bloom Students About Fitness, Health

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL — Chicago Heights Firefighter Zak McGathey has been helping Bloom students learn about fitness and firefighting through a kinesiology class the school offers.

Let me say that again: kinesiology. How cool is that? I would have taken that class when I went to Trail a long time ago had it been offered.

Full disclosure: I am a District 206 graduate and for awhile I would go back to help out with some writing classes there. So while I'll cover the district as fairly as any journalist would, every now and then I'll still get a "how cool is that?" flash for the district that ushered me through my high school years.

Back to the McGathey. He owns CrossFit Chicago Heights and he let Amy Stockwell's kinesiology class to come to his gym for free to learn about healthy living.

He later came to Bloom to talk to students about what it's like to be a firefighter and an EMT.

"He is an amazing person and doing amazing things for his community," Stockwell said.

Judging from the pictures, it looks like her students agree.