Fitness Challenge To Include Families

By Thomas J. Baird SUN-NEWS BUREAU CHIEF
March 20, 2006

The annual Grant County Community Health Council Fitness Challenge is on track to begin early next month, but this year, the program will include families, as well as organizations.

The first fitness challenge took place in the fall of 2004 after Melvyn Gelb, a local diabetes public health nurse, challenged the Grant County Community Health Council to practice what it had been preaching.

"They talked the talk, so I challenged them to walk the walk," Gelb said.

The first event started out with 26 teams and more than 250 walkers using pedometers to map their progress each week, as the teams vied to accumulate the most steps taken and to take home the Fitness Challenge trophy.

Once again, the challenge is open to teams of three or more people, but this time, families with children are also invited to participate. The rules for teams will remain the same, but the family participant rules are a bit different, Gelb said.

"Any family with children can come into the family fitness challenge, and it's not competitive," he said. "Families get free pedometers and after four weeks, there will be prizes, and again after eight weeks."

Everyone in the community is invited to participate. Pedometers will be provided to both organizations and families as long as the supply lasts. Teams keep track of steps walked by using pedometers and keeping records. Teams compete for the honor of displaying the Challenge Cup until the next challenge. Family members will keep logs of steps and activity time and will turn in their logs to earn prizes.

"Everybody is welcome. They can still win prizes, and still have a way to participate," Gelb said.

The challenge will include special events, including a kick-off celebration with healthy snacks, a family kite day, a hike through Boston Hill, a tie-in with the annual Blues Festival, a downtown scavenger hunt with free gelato and a raffle, and an awards ceremony and party.

"The benefits are that spring is coming and we can enjoy the weather and the buds on the trees," Gelb said. "We'd like our community to get involved in the events, have fun, enjoy family time and you can have good health."

The beginning of the Fitness Challenge is meant to coincide with National Public Health Week.

"We invite all participating teams to join the Department of Health Team on Monday, April 4 at 5 p.m. at Fox Field track to make a good strong start by walking a couple of laps together," Gelb said. "Those wearing Fitness Challenge or Silver Streak T-shirts at the kick-off will get a special prize."

More information about the Fitness Challenge is available by calling Melvyn Gelb at 538-5318, Ext. 112. Information will be available on how to become a team captain or to register a family.