Heather Reinke

Connect What fuels your passion for health and fitness?

My passion for fitness comes from the ability to continually improve my quality of life while competing at the highest levels. I also want to make sure I’m building a body that will age gracefully. I have one parent who can run marathons at 70, and another who struggles to lift their carry-on luggage into the car. I want to be able to teach, move, and experience life to the fullest for as long as possible.

What’s your favorite way to train or stay fit?

Training for fights demands strength, endurance, and skill. My favorite training sessions are the ones where I get to train with teammates and focus on skill development while being kindly critiqued by my coach. Anytime I can take advantage of social support, I will. That might mean joining a friend for a run, lifting, rock climbing, dancing, pickleball—or even just taking a walk around town. Cross-training and exploring new activities helps maintain general fitness and keeps

What would you do with $20,000?

$20,000 would allow me to continue down the path of sharing Muay Thai across the U.S. It would support training for myself and my peers, as well as cover competition prep, travel expenses for fights, and continued education. Funds would go towards purchasing equipment for the gym, running training camps, and bringing in experienced coaches/ fighters to help build local programs. My goal is for the next generation to have more opportunities—and a safe exciting entry into combat sports.