MAYOR'S WELLNESS COUNCIL ENCOURAGES ONE MILLION HOUSTONIANS TO EXERCISE FOR 15 MINUTES ON INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE DAY MAY 23 Area Health And Fitness Centers Open Facilities For Free
May 22, 2007 -
WHO: Several fitness facilities around Houston are opening their facilities for free on May 23, including City of Houston Parks & Recreation Department Community Centers, 24 Hour Fitness, Life Time Fitness, Westside Tennis & Fitness, The Health Club for Women, Memorial Athletic Club, Memorial Athletic Club for Women, Shaun Kelley Weight Control and YMCA of Greater Houston.
Individuals, couples, families, businesses, personal trainers, fitness instructors, gym members, physical education teachers, coaches , teams, walkers, runners, dancers, cyclists, swimmers, surfers, kayakers, rowers, and anyone who can or will exercise for 15 minutes on May 23 and report their results.
The Mayor's Wellness Council and the Get Moving Houston physical fitness campaign, which were founded in 2005 by Mayor Bill White to advance his 2005 wellness initiatives for the city of Houston.
The Get Moving Houston campaign was designed to elevate the level of fitness and wellness in the wake of Houston's designation of four out of five years in a row as America's fattest city by Men's Fitness magazine. Last year, Houston improved to number six in the list.
WHAT: The International Challenge Day is a competition that takes place simultaneously in different cities around the world. It requires groups, couples or individuals to record that they have exercised for 15 minutes or more on one given day. As part of the Get Moving Houston fitness campaign established by Mayor White, The Mayor's Wellness Council is supporting the 2007 International Challenge Day with an effort to encourage one million or more Houstonians, doubling last years number, to exercise for 15 minutes or more at any time on May 23, 2007. The results are added to each city's total score, and by the end of the day, the scores are compared and the winner is announced. The prize is pride, honor and recognition of the hard work and effort of the winning community. In 2006, there were 2,867 cities from 24 countries around the
world participating in Challenge Day, and the City of Houston has been involved since 2005.
WHEN: Any time on Wednesday, May 23, 2007, for 15 minutes or longer
WHERE: Anywhere or in one of the following fitness facilities around Houston, which will welcome guests free of charge: City of Houston Parks & Recreation Department Community Centers, 24 Hour Fitness, Life Time Fitness, Westside Tennis & Fitness, The Health Club for Women, Memorial Athletic Club, Memorial Athletic Club for Women and YMCA of Greater Houston.
HOW: To enter results (numbers of exercisers only are required; no names are required) send an e-mail to challengeday2007@cityofhouston.net or leave a voicemail at 713-437-6500 on May 23rd or no later than noon Thursday, May 24th.CDT. Group leaders or coaches may report statistics for their entire class or group.
