A Family’s Quest to Close the Life Expectancy Gap
Introduction to the Peace Runners
Outside the iconic Garfield Park Fieldhouse on Chicago’s West Side, Glydan “Momma” Hoffman stands in a large circle with about 50 people to warm up for a one-mile walk. She tries to jostle her knees high, one at a time. “Oh, I hate that one,” Hoffman says with a laugh. Music blares and people whoop to the beat. One heel out, arms up. Repeat. Then come the jumping jacks as they all shout: “P-E-A-C-E runners.” “What?!” “Runners.” “What?!” Minutes later, they’re off. One big group starts to jog through the park. Hoffman joins a small crowd of women walking briskly. She moves with confidence and ease, something unthinkable for her just five years ago.
The Genesis of Peace Runners 773
Glydan Hoffman was about 70 pounds heavier then and on a dozen or so medications for high blood pressure, asthma and a host of other conditions. She was scared she was going to die. At 63, she was already older than her mom and sister, who had both died in their 50s of chronic disease or cancer. During a telehealth appointment with her doctor as the COVID-19 pandemic raged, the physician mentioned that Hoffman lives in a community where people can expect to die earlier than in most other neighborhoods in Chicago. Heart disease is a top killer and she was at risk. Her son, Jackie Hoffman Jr., sitting next to her on the couch, overheard the conversation. He had no idea his mom was on so many medications. “That was the thing that woke the person up inside of me,” he said. “I needed to show up for my mom.” That moment sparked an idea that not only transformed his mom’s life but has become a source of pride for the West Side. Born in Hoffman’s living room, Peace Runners 773 has now grown into an expansive running and walking and wellness program for West Siders of all ages.
Finding the Ingredients for a Healthier Life
Jackie Hoffman Jr., 36, and his mom both grew up in Garfield Park. He played Division 1 football at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida, then worked as a police officer in Atlanta for a few years before moving back. He says he was drawn home to help take care of his parents and others in his family as they aged. He was on his own weight-loss journey to come down from more than 300 pounds as an offensive lineman, so he already had the recipe for his mom: Take a walk and change what you eat. Glydan Hoffman used a walker and rarely walked in her neighborhood. She was afraid of the violence, but she also feared that her blood pressure might get so high she could pass out. And it was hard to find fresh fruits and vegetables. A lot of people leave the neighborhood to go grocery shopping. So, mom and son started out small: a walk around her backyard every morning around 6 a.m. Then they went to the park nearby, walking about a mile a day. Jackie Hoffman Jr. would run laps around his mom, encouraging her along the way. She learned how to read food labels and changed what she ate, trading chips and Pepsi for water, oatmeal, fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Community Bands Together
Five years later, it’s common for more than 100 people to show up on a hot Saturday morning in the summer. Even when it’s cold, the Peace Runners are there. They have programs to train walkers into runners, to racing in a marathon. There are strength coaches, yoga instructors and nutrition workshops. There’s a youth run club, and the Young At Hearts walking group of seniors that Hoffman leads.
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