North YMCA

10/13/2026

💙 MISSION MOMENT: From Lane Mates to Gold Medals 🏊‍♀️🥇

Sometimes the most meaningful connections at the Y begin with something as simple as, “Can I help?”

Terri is a lifelong swimmer whose love for the water has taken her from teaching swimming and high school PE to coaching boys’ and girls’ swim teams and eventually competing herself.

After returning to the Wichita area in 2016, the North YMCA became the place where she continued doing what she loves — swimming.
About three months ago, Terri was at the pool when she noticed another swimmer trying to decide which lane would work best for her. Terri offered to move lanes so the woman, Rose, could have easier access to the ladder.

They introduced themselves, and what started as a small act of kindness grew from there. 💙

As Terri and Rose continued running into each other at the pool, Terri noticed something — Rose could SWIM! She would swim freestyle for more than an hour without taking a break.

Terri was training for the Kansas Senior Games and decided to ask Rose if she would consider competing alongside her. Rose said YES!

So, off to Topeka they went! 🚗🏊‍♀️
For her very first swim competition, Rose competed in FOUR events:

🏊‍♀️ 50 Freestyle
🏊‍♀️ 100 Freestyle
🏊‍♀️ 200 Freestyle
🏊‍♀️ 500 Freestyle

And the results?

🥇 GOLD. GOLD. GOLD. GOLD.

Rose took home gold in all four events! 🎉

But this story is about so much more than medals. It’s about two people meeting at the Y, forming a friendship, encouraging one another, and proving that there is always an opportunity to try something new.

One small act of kindness at the pool turned into a trip to Topeka, four gold medals, new friendships, and a memory neither Terri nor Rose will soon forget.

THIS is community. THIS is the Y. 💙

Congratulations, Rose — and thank you, Terri, for reminding us of the incredible things that can happen when we simply take the time to connect with the person in the lane next to us. 🥇👏

10/12/2026

💗🎀 PARTY IN PINK! 🎀💗

Join Jess and Melissa for a fun, pink-filled celebration! 💕 We’re teaming up to bring a little extra energy and excitement to both classes.

📅 October 16 at 6:00pm – Jess’s class at the North YMCA
📅 October 19 at 6:30pm – Melissa’s class at the South YMCA

💗 Wear your pink and come ready to have fun! 🎶 Experience your favorite songs at each class! 👯‍♀️ Bring a friend, meet new faces, and join us for BOTH classes!

Let’s fill the room with pink, music, and amazing energy! We can’t wait to see you there! 💖🎉

10/10/2026

👏🎉 Give a WELL-DESERVED round of applause to our October Employee of the Month… ALISON! 🎉👏

Alison joined the North YMCA during our summer season as a lifeguard, and it didn’t take long for her to start making waves! 🌊

Since then, she has jumped into just about everything:

🏊‍♀️ Swim Lesson Instructor
🌅 Morning Pool Opener
💦 SPLASH Instructor
⚽ And she even volunteered to coach a Micro Soccer team!

Seriously… what DOESN’T she do?! 😂👏

You can usually catch Alison on the pool deck yapping with our members, sharing one of her entertaining stories, or finding a way to make someone laugh. But behind all that humor is someone who genuinely cares about the people around her.

Alison’s willingness to step up, her dedication to our Y, and her ability to build meaningful relationships with our members, youth, and teammates are exactly why we’re excited to recognize her this month. 💙

Alison, we appreciate YOU and everything you bring to the North YMCA! Congratulations on being our October Employee of the Month! 🎉🏆

10/08/2026

🏃‍♀️💪 IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN THE RACE! 🎃🔥

Grab your teammates and get ready for YROX on Saturday, October 31st at the Farha Sport Center South Turf Fields!

Choose the challenge that fits YOU:

🔥 Elite Division — $75/person
💪 Community Division — $50/person
👥 Compete as partners or teams of 3–4
🙌 Modified exercises are available so your team can choose the intensity that works best for you!

And did we mention it’s HALLOWEEN?! 👻🎃 Costumes are highly encouraged, so bring the energy, bring your team, and bring your best costume!

📅 Registration closes October 24th!

Register your team in person at the YMCA or online at ymcawichita.org/yrox.

Who’s ready to take on YROX?! 🔥💪

10/08/2026

10.13.2026

10/07/2026

What do you do when you feel so good about something, you just can't hold it in any longer?

Write a poem.

At least that's what Jan from the Hutchinson YMCA did recently to celebrate the special relationship she's built with her trainer, Mindy Gloria.

Her words are fun, witty, relatable and reflective of how connections are at the heart of the YMCA:

I didn't want to exercise at the Y.
I'd rather stay home and eat pie, read books, paint, and pet cats!
But to improve balance and health, I had to face facts!
Mindy, my trainer, with lots of smiles
put Gary, Lori, and me through tricks from her files!
Mindy knows exercises for every body part.
Encouraging and challenging, she soon won my heart!
Week by week we carried weights through the halls.
"Superman" and "birddog" and throwing balls.
We moaned, laughed, bonded and sweat.
When we left class we were proud...and wet!
You know a thousand ways to exercise, You made our strength and balance rise!
Thank you, Mindy, you're an amazing athlete!
As trainer (and MOM) you can't be beat.

10/06/2026

💙 MISSION MOMENT: Sometimes, all it takes is trying something new! 💙

When Vincent, Raymond, and Ethan’s mom encouraged them to step outside of their comfort zones and try something different, private hip-hop lessons weren’t something the three brothers were completely sure about.

But after their first lesson with our Dance & Gymnastics Director, Kyle, something changed. 🙌

The boys started practicing what they learned outside of class and decided they wanted to keep coming back! Now, they’re continuing to build their hip-hop skills, gain confidence, and most importantly — have FUN trying something new. 🎶🕺

Here’s what they had to say:

⭐ Vince, 16:
“This class is pretty fun and a good experience.”

⭐ Raymond, 13:
“It was nice trying something else and it is interesting.”

⭐ Ethan, 10:
“It’s fun and enjoyable to try new things.”

At the Y, growth can start with something as simple as saying “I’ll give it a try.” 💙

We love watching Kyle create a space where these three can learn, grow, and discover something they may have never known they’d enjoy. Keep dancing, Vince, Raymond, and Ethan! 👏🎶

10/05/2026

👻🎃 It’s time to SPOOK UP your workouts! 💪

This month’s YMCA 360 Challenge is HAUNTED HIIT! 🕸️🔥

Ready to earn some points while breaking a sweat?

👻 Join the challenge = 5 YMCA 360 Reward Points

💪 Complete & track 8 HIIT workouts in the app = 10 MORE points!

That’s 15 points up for grabs! 🙌

No tricks — just workouts, rewards, and a frighteningly good time. 😉🎃

Who’s in?! Drop a 👻 in the comments if you’re taking on Haunted HIIT this month!

10/02/2026

What a great way to end the week: Our YMCA family is getting bigger!

Please join us in giving a great, big welcome to our newest Greater Wichita YMCA branch, the YMCA of Topeka.

Our reach is expanding and so is our ability to increase the health and wellness of more Kansans. We have so many reasons to celebrate!

Read the full announcement here: ymcawichita.org/news/ymca-topeka-joins-greater-wichita-ymca

Big announcement today ...

The YMCA of Topeka is now officially part of the Greater Wichita YMCA!

Mark Ault, Chair of the YMCA of Topeka Board of Directors, put into words what we all feel: "The momentum we’re gaining from the Greater Wichita YMCA solidifies our ability to impact more lives in the Topeka community for years to come. We look forward to this next step forward.”

Read the full announcement: ymcawichita.org/news/ymca-topeka-joins-greater-wichita-ymca

10/02/2026

🏀 CALLING ALL HOOPERS! 🏀

Fall 2 Sports Registration is wrapping up, and there’s still time to get your player on the court!

Stop by the North YMCA to register for Recreation Basketball! We’re welcoming players from Pre-K through 7th grade. 🙌

Basketball is about more than making baskets — it’s an opportunity for kids to:

🏀 Stay active
🤝 Learn teamwork
💪 Build confidence
⭐ Develop new skills
💙 Grow their love for the game

🚨 REGISTRATION CLOSES OCTOBER 5TH! 🚨

Don’t miss your chance to join a team this season! Stop by the North YMCA and get your player registered before the deadline!

10/01/2026

Small steps still move us forward! 👟💛

As September’s Self-Improvement Month comes to a close, remember that growth can start with something simple—even a quick walk down the hallway at work to get extra steps, take a mental break, and breathe.

Cheers to September and the little wins along the way! 🍂 Let’s welcome October with one more small habit to keep our growth journey going.

What’s one small improvement you’re making this month? Share below so we can cheer you on! 👇

09/29/2026

Happy Tuesday, YMCA Family! 💙💪

Can't make it to a Group Exercise class? SAY LESS! 🙌

Did you know we have an InStudio experience right here in Studio D? 🎉

Our InStudio offers virtual classes led by instructors from across the nation! Whether you're looking for Yoga, Cardio, Strength Training, or even Cooking tutorials, there's something for everyone!

📱 Can't make it to the Y? No problem! These classes are also available right at your fingertips through the YMCA 360 app!

Your fitness journey, YOUR schedule! 💪

Stop by the front desk and ask our team how to get connected!

09/23/2026

You'll want the sound on for this video featuring ESPN Wichita 92.3's Pat Strathman and the Y's Catherine Seals.

The topic was YMCA youth sports and how any adult can explore volunteer sports coaching opportunities at our branches.

FACT: Volunteer coaches don’t need to be professional coaches or former athletes to make a difference. The YMCA provides training, so no experience is necessary.

ANOTHER FACT: Volunteering can fit different schedules and interests. There are opportunities for people who want to coach, assist a coach or simply lend a hand.

We’re currently looking for coaches for the Fall II sports season (all applicants go through a thorough screening process).

Contact the sports director at any one of our 12 branches to get involved so every child has a team to play on.

09/19/2026

💙 27+ Years. Countless Lives Impacted. One Incredible Legacy.

If you know Suresh, you know his work at the YMCA was never just a job — it was his purpose.

Suresh began his YMCA journey in 1998 as an opener at the Downtown YMCA, where he loved meeting members, greeting them with a smile, and wishing them a good day.

His journey would eventually take him to the South YMCA, Hutchinson YMCA, Northwest YMCA, and North YMCA — serving as a Personal Trainer, Fitness Director, and FFA along the way.

For 14 years, Suresh made the daily drive from Wichita to Hutchinson because he had one goal: leave the branch better than he found it. He helped raise funds for new fitness equipment, invested in the people around him, and continued doing what he loved most — helping others.

For 27 years as a Personal Trainer with the Y, Suresh approached every day with gratitude and purpose.

Before walking into the building, he would say:
💬 “Thank you for giving me this job.”
💬 “I’m here for a purpose. I am not here for myself.”
💬 “I am here to help someone be better than what they used to be.”
And one more prayer guided his work:
💬 “Man upstairs, guide me — I just want to make their lives better.”

That heart for people showed in the little things, too. Suresh made it a point to greet the front desk staff when he arrived, head upstairs to greet the fitness team, and then get to work serving the people around him.

The YMCA’s mission aligned perfectly with who Suresh already was: someone with a genuine passion and drive to help others become the best versions of themselves.

Now, Suresh moves into his next chapter — retirement — knowing that he has done exactly what he set out to do. He helped people become healthier. He made lives better. And he absolutely left the YMCA better than he found it. 💙

To everyone who joined us last week for Suresh’s retirement celebration, THANK YOU! Seeing so many people come together to celebrate him was a beautiful reminder of just how many lives one person can touch over the years.

Suresh, thank you for the handshakes, conversations, encouragement, workouts, laughs, leadership, and 27+ years of pouring into our YMCA community.

Enjoy retirement, our friend. Your YMCA family loves you! 💙👏🏽

09/15/2026

Everything we do at the YMCA is centered around improving lives. Our nonprofit mission is as big as it gets, and it’s something we can’t do alone.

Our sincere appreciation goes out to HCA Healthcare, parent company of Wesley Healthcare, for its generous support of our LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program that helps cancer survivors take back their strength, independence and hope for the future.

Yesterday, Bill Voloch, President & CEO of Wesley Healthcare, and Dave Stewart, Director of Communications & Community Engagement at Wesley Healthcare, presented the YMCA with a $25,000 check that will make it possible for nearly 100 individuals to attend 12 weeks of future LIVESTRONG at the YMCA sessions at area YMCA branches. Donations like this allow us to continue offering LIVESTRONG at the YMCA free of charge to anyone, at any point in their cancer journey.

A gift like this will impact so many lives, and we’re incredibly grateful to partner with HCA Healthcare and Wesley Healthcare to strengthen our community.

Thank you!

(pictured left to right) Ronn McMahon, President & CEO of the Greater Wichita YMCA, Dave Stewart, Director of Communications & Community Engagement at Wesley Healthcare, Shamain Bachman, Vice President of Marketing at the YMCA, and Bill Voloch, President & CEO of Wesley Healthcare.

09/11/2026

9/11 is one of those rare moment's in our nation’s history where you remember exactly where you were when the news broke. The images permanently etched into our collective memories.

Today, on its 25th anniversary, we pause to remember the 2,977 people we lost. They will never be forgotten.

Year after year, we are honored our YMCA branches have been gathering places for individuals throughout our community to take part in the 9/11 memorial stair climb tradition.

110 floors, 2,200 steps, representing the height of the World Trade Center towers.

Each climb honors the 343 FDNY firefighters who gave their lives while helping others on September 11, 2001.

Coming together, we honor their sacrifice and carry their memory forward.

09/04/2026

The YROX Fitness Race is intense – not impossible.

Advance preparation makes the difference, and that's where YMCA trainers come in.

Starting next week, 35 trainers at 11 YMCA branches will kick off YROX Group Training sessions. To get involved, you must sign up in person at any YMCA location by Monday, September 14.

ABOUT TRAINING: Attend early morning/daytime/evening sessions twice a week for 8 weeks with any trainer at any location.

⇾ You've not locked into one time or place.
⇾ Training is on your terms.

AND THEN THERE'S THE BENEFITS:
⇾ Learn beginner, intermediate and advanced modifications for each of the race's 8 functional fitness stations.
⇾ Be mentally and physically ready for race day on 10/31.
⇾ Become a ROX star in your own right

The only thing left to do is add your name to our training rosters. You got this!

Learn more at ymcawichita.org/yrox.

09/03/2026

A good night's sleep is one of the best things you can do for your health. This September, challenge yourself to prioritize rest by aiming for 100 hours of sleep throughout the month, or about 8 hours each night.

Track your sleep in the YMCA 360 app by manually adding a workout and selecting “Sleep.”

Need help winding down? Explore YMCA 360's Rest & Restore sleep support playlist, featuring Bedtime Yoga and other relaxation content designed to help you rest easier.

Join through the app or online at https://ymca360.org/challenges/2705-wake-me-up-when-september-ends.

Don't have the YMCA 360 app? Download it today >>>> ymcawichita.org/ymca360.

09/03/2026

Labor Day (Monday, SEPT 7) is the final day of our 2026 water park season. There's a reason people say time flies when you're having fun! The Fall season is up next with YMCA branches ready to keep the excitement going.

HOLIDAY HOURS: YMCA branches will be open on Labor Day, with adjusted hours. Please check the schedule first before heading out ➡ ymcawichita.org/laborday2026

09/02/2026

Our members have spoken ... the best part about the YMCA is the people!

Tell us: What keeps you coming back to your YMCA branch? Let's fill the comments with Y ❤