COEUR d'ALENE - Valerie Queen is a personal trainer thanks to one person.

Her mom.

But it's not that her mother, Robbie Welbourn, was a fitness buff. She struggled with her weight, and when she died at age 57 on July 1, 2010, she weighed more than 300 pounds.

Valerie saw the pain her mom lived with as people commented or stared. She knew of the hurt she endured. It haunts her today.

"I watched too many tears fall from her eyes because people didn't understand or care to know why she was overweight," she said.

What Valerie didn't know then, she knows now.

"Eating too much junk wasn't my mom's issue. She ate wrong and not enough," she said.

The memory of her mom, and Valerie's drive to honor her, led to the creation of the Robbie Welbourn Save A Life Project.

"By sharing her story, I want people to understand that because of her weight she was judged all the way to her death," Val wrote.

Valerie, along with husband Josh Queen, also a personal trainer, owns and operates The Gym on Fourth Street in Coeur d'Alene.

They began a free program last month to help those who met two criteria: 80-100 pounds overweight, and they couldn't afford to hire a trainer.

For their part, the Queens will work with them in the gym, visit their home and go through the cupboards and fridge, devise a meal plan and monitor progress. Say hello to natural, whole foods, high in protein, low in carbs. Say goodbye to junk food. So long processed stuff. Kiss the soda pop farewell. No more Top Ramen or mac and cheese for snacks or meals.

"Stuff our body wasn't designed to run on," Josh said.

The Queens expected a few to respond to their offer, thinking they might get one person per trainer. Wrong. Josh is already working one-on-one with five clients enrolled in the six-month program, Valerie three, and other trainers at The Gym, four.

Such is the response, Josh said millions have visited their Facebook page, emails have come in from across the country, and they've been swamped with phone calls, all from folks thanking them, offering help and wanting in, too.

So they have a problem, but one they consider a good problem.

"It's really blossomed into something that's so big," Josh said. "It's been a blessing."

As part of the solution, they've launched a free nutrition and training class twice a week and already, about 50 are attending. Those folks, as room opens up, can join the six-month program later if they qualify.

"That way we don't have to turn anybody away," Josh said.

Which is wonderful, said Elizabeth Fox.

The Coeur d'Alene woman was accepted into the program three weeks ago and has already lost 10 pounds.

Fox trains with Valerie Queen twice a week. She was given a food scale and blender to measure and prepare food. Valerie even checks her store receipts to be sure she's buying the right food.

So, how's it going?

"She kicks my butt," Fox said, laughing.

As it should be, she added.

"If she wasn't like that, I wouldn't do anything," Fox said.

The hardest part is timing meals around her classes at North Idaho College. She's on a program that calls for 300 calories every four hours.

Fox said the support she's received - mentally, physically, emotionally - is nothing short of amazing.

"My problem has been not knowing what to do to make it better," she said. "It's exactly what I needed."

Fox plans to lose 60 pounds by year's end.

Valerie told her, though, they won't be done after a certain amount of time. She'll work with Fox until they've made the lifestyle changes together.

"It's cool to have that kind of support," Fox said. "I never expected somebody I didn't know to do that for me."

Valerie is glad to give her time and talents to help folks she believes found themselves in a situation similar as her mom.

"There are so many people who can't afford it, or that are embarrassed to go to a gym," she said.

"When it comes down to the truth, they do want a better quality of life and they don't have the means to make it happen."

"Down deep, if someone gave them a helping hand, they would reach for it and start a new life," Valerie added.

She said she, Josh and staff at The Gym are dedicated to providing six months of personal training and nutritional counseling to those in the program. In a way, they will take over the lives of these clients.

"We will dedicate our lives to changing their lives forever," Valerie said.

In that six months, they must agree to two workouts a week. Walking five days a week, up to an hour each session, is part of the program. They must allow their home to be cleansed of the non-healthy foods - which is donated to food banks - and restocked with more veggies, fruits and natural choices. The Queens provide scales for clients and go grocery shopping with them. They create meal plans, too.

"We will make meals with them and help them learn the correct way to lose and keep weight off," Val said.

"We're teaching them what's good and what's bad food," Josh said.

It's not cheap.

The first purge, Josh said, costs around $200, funded by the Queens. They have received some donations to cover costs, including $1,000 from Greg Helbling, owner of Helbling Employee Benefits. Some clients give from $1 to $25.

Josh emphasized the changes their clients are making are not easy, and some may give up. It takes commitment, dedication, discipline and time, too.

"It's something that doesn't move very fast," Josh said.

Josh and Valerie won't give up on them, though.

"This is something my wife and our trainers have committed to doing the rest of our careers," he said.

"We decided we're going to do this for our community."

The Queens like the results so far.

Clients are losing weight, toning up, have more energy and their self-esteem is climbing.

"It's amazing to be part of and watch," Josh said.

And that's just in the first month.

They expect increased progress in month two, as trainees grasp what is being asked of them, understand how physical training and nutrition affects their lives and began to push themselves.

"Then it really starts coming off," Josh said.

Best, though, he adds, is the healing it has brought to his wife as she thinks of her mom.

Valerie has a final request of people: "Remember two things the next time you see someone whom you want to judge or want to comment: Everyone has a story, and every day is a gift."

The Queens welcome inquires from those who want to be in the program, nominate someone or donate, too.

Info: Josh Queen, 704-2877, or Valerie, 659-1130