Thursday, January 22, 2009
Getting people active and healthy
Last year, about 500 people took part in Get Healthy Virginia.
Jeanna Duerscherl | The Roanoke Times
The Rotary Club of Roanoke Valley is one of many teams participating in Get Healthy Virginia, a statewide weight loss competition.
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Get Healthy Virginia is on a mission: to get people in the commonwealth more active and healthy.
A program of Virginia Amateur Sports, Get Healthy Virginia is designed to encourage Virginians to develop better eating habits and increase their physical activity. Between now and April 30, participants can compete to see which team will lose the greatest percentage of weight and which will accumulate the most activity miles.
Businesses and organizations can use the program as part of an existing wellness plan or to kick off a new one. Individuals can gather their friends and families to participate as a team. The organizers believe that having other team members for encouragement and support is a key factor to success.
Last year, approximately 500 Virginians participated, with about half of those from the southwestern part of the state. So far this year, about 100 people have registered. Several organizations, including the Rotary Club of Roanoke Valley and the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, have registered teams. LifeWise Fitness and Heartland Rehabilitative Services are sponsoring the program.
The idea started in Iowa and has caught on in several states. In 2004, the Virginia program started as Lighten Up Virginia. The decision to change the name to Get Healthy Virginia came about to send a stronger message that it is time to get serious about getting healthy, according to Peter Lampman, president of Virginia Amateur Sports.
Virginia Amateur Sports is a nonprofit organization based in Roanoke that coordinates several special events to promote the benefits of physical fitness and healthy lifestyles. Their biggest event is the Coventry Commonwealth Games of Virginia, an Olympic-style amateur sports festival.
Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to the top three teams in each Get Healthy Virginia category at the opening ceremonies of the Coventry Commonwealth Games in July. All participants will receive a T-shirt.
"The biggest benefit is that you're taking care of yourself," Lampman said. "You are your most important asset. Sometimes, we are so busy taking care of others or doing our job that we don't take care of ourselves. Hopefully, those who participate will get healthier and feel better about themselves and everything in their life."
