HOUSTON – What started as a prayer during a drive home from work has grown into a children’s book series designed to get kids moving, reading and making healthier choices.
For David Norec, the idea came during one of the most difficult periods of his life after losing two siblings to diabetes.
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Norec, a former teacher who grew up in the Rio Grande Valley, founded Fit-Lit, a company that combines literacy and exercise through interactive children’s books designed to address obesity, diabetes and illiteracy among children.
In 2013, Norec lost a brother to the disease. A year later, he lost a sister. The health struggles didn’t stop there.
“My brother used to play collegiate soccer,” Norec told KPRC 2’s Michael Horton. “Before he passed away, he had already undergone an amputation of one of his legs and had trouble with his eyesight.”
Another sister later lost part of her foot and died from complications related to diabetes.
Last summer, Norec lost a third sibling who had gone blind because of the disease. He also has family members currently living with severe diabetes-related complications.
“So, diabetes has just killed my family,” Norec said. “I’ve literally seen it physically destroy my family.”
Norec said the challenges he witnessed weren’t limited to his own household. Growing up in McAllen, he saw firsthand how obesity and diabetes affected entire communities.
“Eight of the past nine years, we have been the most obese city in America,” Norec said. “This year we came in at number two. But pretty much, we’re still called the fattest city in America.”
Searching for a way to honor his siblings and help future generations avoid similar struggles, Norec said an idea came to him during a drive home from work.
“The idea came to me: write a children’s book, call it The Adventures of Exo and Cy — like exercise. Have it take place in a town called ‘O.B. City,’ like obesity," he said.
The result was The Adventures of Exo and Cy, the first installment in a planned seven-book series that turns reading into an active experience.
The story follows heroes Exo and Cy — a boy and his pet dog — as they battle villains representing unhealthy habits and foods. Throughout the adventure, readers are prompted to complete exercises that are woven directly into the storyline.
Each exercise includes a QR code that links to instructional videos, allowing children to follow along while reading.
“When kids read the book, they actually get an exercise workout,” Norec said.
The concept has since expanded beyond the pages of the book.
Norec and his team are developing what they call “Trail Tale Parks,” which place pages of the story along walking trails in parks. Families can walk the trail, read the story, scan QR codes and complete exercises together.
Before launching Fit-Lit, Norec spent 14 years as a teacher. He believes reaching children early is one of the most effective ways to prevent future health problems.
“When kids are young, that’s when you can really get to them,” he said. “If you can get them to change the way they eat and the way they exercise, they’re going to avoid all these problems going forward.”
The mission is also personal.
Norec was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes after previously being warned that he was prediabetic. Since launching the program, he has made major lifestyle changes, including giving up soda and losing about 60 pounds.
“It’s made me look in the mirror and man up,” he said. “If I’m going to promote healthy eating and exercise, I have to live it.”
Now, Norec is taking his message to a national stage.
He is among the entrepreneurs competing in Verizon’s Small Business Super Pitch regional semifinals in Houston. The competition will be held at noon Monday at BakerRipley Central in East Downtown Houston.
One regional winner will advance to the national finals, where competitors will pitch their businesses to soccer star Carli Lloyd for a $20,000 grand prize and tickets to the FIFA World Cup Final.
For Norec, the opportunity is about more than growing his business.
The Rio Grande Valley, he said, is often known nationally for its high obesity rates. He hopes to shine a different light on the region while continuing to advocate for healthier lifestyles.
“I want to represent a place that’s often viewed negatively,” Norec said. “I want to bring positive attention to the region and help create change.”
Despite years of financial struggles while building his business, including having his car repossessed and facing foreclosure on his home, Norec said he never stopped pursuing his dream.
“First of all, I’m thankful to God,” Norec said. “I’m also thankful to Verizon for giving small businesses opportunities to survive and compete. If anyone wants to be an entrepreneur, do it—but realize it’s going to be difficult."
He credits much of that perseverance to his daughter, a first-year medical student who hopes to become a podiatrist and help diabetes patients avoid amputations.
“Every day you’re going to wake up to a million reasons to give up,” Norec said. “Every day you need to find a million and one reasons to keep going.”
For more information on Fit-Lit, click here. To read more about “Verizon Small Business Super Pitch,” click here.