Local health and fitness professionals target entire community for new wellness program         

Staying Alive kickoff party Thursday at the Lincoln Park District

[JAN. 19, 2007]  Four local organizations want to help extend health-related New Year's resolutions well beyond the month of January.

CITV5, Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, the Logan County Health Department and the Lincoln Park District have joined together to sponsor the yearlong "Staying Alive" wellness challenge for teams of local residents or employees.

Teams consist of four to six individuals who live together, work together or just enjoy spending time with each other.

"Each team member should go into the Staying Alive challenge with a particular health goal in mind, like lowering their BMI (body mass index), lowering cholesterol or blood pressure, or losing weight," says Stephanie Winter, fitness coordinator at the Lincoln Park District.

Individual team members earn points for completing daily, weekly and monthly tasks. Daily tasks include wearing a seat belt and eating five fruits or vegetables daily. Sleeping seven-eight hours per night is an example of a weekly task. One of January's 25-point monthly tasks is to complete a fitness assessment at Lincoln Park District.

Interested teams can pick up a registration and points packets at the Lincoln Park District, Logan County Health Department or Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital. Completed registration packets and a $20 entry fee are accepted only at the Lincoln Park District. Interested individuals without a team may join for $10.

Teams may also register at the Staying Alive kickoff party at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25, at the Lincoln Park District Rec Center.

Every month the teams then turn in their individual score sheets at the Lincoln Park District. Prizes will be awarded to the team that completes the most Staying Alive tasks for the month.

"A recent health scare in our family made me realize the importance of adopting healthy lifestyle habits," says CITV5 co-owner Celeste Rogers. "Through the Staying Alive health and wellness challenge, members of the entire community can motivate each other to live better for longer."

CITV5 is broadcasting an hour-long Staying Alive program at 7 a.m., 2 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Health and fitness professionals from Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, Logan County Health Department and the Lincoln Park District share tips for success. Team members receive points for attending the monthly taping on the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Park District.

For more information about the Staying Alive health and wellness challenge, call the Lincoln Park District at 732-8770 or visit www.citv5.com or www.logancountyhealth.org to download registration forms and points packets.

[News release provided by Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital]