Press
Get Active Utah! Fitness Challenge Kicks Off at Olympic Oval
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Obesity is an epidemic facing millions of Americans and the numbers increase each year. Within the past 20 years, the percentage of Utahns battling overweight or obesity has climbed to more than 50 percent. Heart disease is now the number one killer in Utah, and in 2004 taxpayers spent $167 per person in medical costs related to obesity. Check Your Health and the Utah Summer Games recognize that regular physical activity, including walking, cycling, swimming or dancing, is proven to help reduce heart disease, increase weight loss, lead to better mental health and ultimately, stronger communities.
Saturday, March 4, 2006, Check Your Health and the Utah Summer Games invite Utahns of all ages and fitness levels to attend the Kickoff for the 2nd Annual Get Active Utah! Fitness Challenge at the Olympic Oval in Kearns, UT (5662 S. 4800 W.) Lt. Governor Gary Herbert will kickoff the event with a Summer Games torch lighting ceremony followed by a one-mile walk. Participants who join the Lt. Governor in the walk will receive an Olympic Pin. They will then be invited to take part in one of several free physical activity clinics, providing a chance to learn speed skating, hockey, strength training or other activities. The Utah Jazz Bear will also be on hand to sign autographs and pose for pictures. The event is free of charge. Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m., and clinics may fill up fast, so get there early.
Participants at the Kickoff will be encouraged to sign up for the Get Active Utah! Fitness Challenge, beginning March 4 and ending on June 5, 2006. Those who sign up will compete as individuals or with their school, family, workplace, or community by tracking their activity over the next 12 weeks. Fitness Challenge staff will be on-hand with computers to show potential challengers how to track their activity using UtahWalks.org. See the attached fact sheet for more information.
The Get Active Utah! Fitness Challenge is part of an initiative to combat obesity in Utah and is supported by the partners of Check Your Health (Utah Department of Health, Intermountain Healthcare, KUTV2 News “Fresh Air”) and the Utah Summer Games.
For more information on the Get Active Utah! Fitness Challenge, please contact Kyle Case with the Utah Summer Games at 435-865-8421, case@suu.edu or the Check Your Health hotline at 1-888-222-2542.
Labels: Partnerships
