When Kim Peters opened The Fitness Center of Havre de Grace, she wasn’t just creating a gym. She was building a space shaped by resilience, inclusion, and a deep commitment to the community she calls home, all with an eye on maintaining a healthy heart.
Heart health awareness is especially personal for Peters. A heart attack survivor herself, she was just 38 when she was misdiagnosed for months. “I was having heart attacks on a daily basis while under doctors’ care,” she said. Eventually, her issues led to a major heart attack. Like many women, her symptoms weren't what people expect. “As women, we are misdiagnosed--our symptoms don’t present the same.”
Each February during American Heart Month, Peters channels that experience into a heart-health challenge. Members earn points through workouts, shared heart health facts, and heart-healthy recipes, with a special focus on women’s heart health. Guest speakers, who may be members themselves, help bring visibility to the issue.
After her own major heart event, Peters struggled with traditional cardiac rehab and began researching and rebuilding on her own. “I was an active person prior,” she said. Over time, lifestyle changes and movement helped her to move forward, particularly with her daughter’s support. “As my strength was building, so was my confidence in the gym, and I felt like I was capable of doing more.”
That mindset defines the gym today. With flexible memberships, inclusive programming, a dog-friendly environment, and employment opportunities for adults with special needs (which she holds dear as a prior inclusion helper in a public school in the county), the space reflects Peters’ belief that fitness should be accessible and personal. “Fitness should be what works for you,” she said. “There’s no reason you can’t live your healthiest lifestyle, whether that’s hiking, biking, or weight lifting, as long as you’re not pushing yourself to the extreme.”
For Peters, staying active is about living fully. “I’m living for my grandchildren,” she says. “You can’t do that if you let a heart attack win.”
In addition to promoting heart health, Kim Peters continues to support children with special needs. Through the gym, she has raised money for two children to receive service dogs and is currently seeking a third recipient.