For almost 30 years, the Metro Central YMCA was at the heart of Mark Smyka's life. Then the YMCA was there when he needed it most, when his heart stopped beating.

A dedicated fitness enthusiast, Mark was a familiar face at the Metro Central YMCA, working out as often as six times a week. On July 31st, 2006, he found himself in exactly the right place at the right time, thanks to the defibrillator acquired by the YMCA in September, 2003.

"Had I been anywhere else but the YMCA", Smyka says, "it would have been curtains."

The defibrillator was part of a generous gift to the YMCA of Greater Toronto by the Mieke company. To maintain certification of the machines, now found at all YMCA Health Fitness and Recreation centres, staff must re-train every three months.

On that particular Monday, Mark was completing a "recovery run" after successfully completing a 15-mile marathon the day before. He was cleaning the treadmill for the next YMCA member when his heart developed a near-fatal arrhythmia.

Lesley Davidson, General Manager of the Metro Central YMCA, was on the front lines of the response team when Mark Smyka collapsed. After assessing that Mark's heart had stopped, Davidson and her team successfully hooked up the defibrillator and re-started Mark's heart.

"We were well-trained to use the defibrillator, and it worked!" Davidson says. "I do think that the staff of YMCA centres are very well-prepared to handle emergencies. If you're going to have something like this happen, you want it to happen at the YMCA."

The staff at St. Michael's Hospital were impressed by the expert response provided by the YMCA. As a result of the team's immediate action, Mark suffered no lasting effects from the crisis and was back at work a week later.

Throughout his life, Mark Smyka has considered the YMCA his second home. While traveling on business, the communications writer routinely seeks out hotels that are close to YMCAs so he can maintain his fitness regimen. The YMCA is a key part of his family's life as well. His father-in-law, at age 87, has been a member of the North Bay YMCA for fifty years.

"He has often said that the YMCA saved his life," Mark says. "Now I'm sure he'll accuse me of one-upmanship!"

In November, Mark hosted a reception at the Westbury Hotel to thank the staff of the Metro Central YMCA. It was an important opportunity for people to re-connect with Mark and strengthen their very special bond. Smyka says that during his recovery period, he has been truly moved by the outpouring of concern he's received from YMCA staff.

"There is a genuine relationship there," Mark says, when describing his connection to the people at the Metro Central YMCA. "They didn't realize how important the YMCA was in my life" he says, "and I didn't realize that the feeling was mutual."