Canku Ota

(Many Paths)

An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America

April 5, 2003 - Issue 84

The Wellness Wakeup Challenge

The national anti-obesity/diabetes campaign, The Wellness Wakeup Challenge is spreading to communities all over the country. It will be kicking-off on July 1st in Knoxville, TN, Orange County, CA and Northern New Jersey. The campaign is designed to significantly enhance the health of local communities everywhere it is run. The campaign now awards $10,000.00 at the end of the one-year campaign to the individual who is deemed by the local Board of Director's as the most outstanding participant. There is also a second place award of $5,000.00 and a separate campaign for corporations.

The "Wellness Wakeup Challenge" is a community-based wellness program to promote fitness and healthy lifestyle to those segments of the population that are lacking awareness and instruction in this vital area. It is in direct response to the alarming rates of obesity and sedentary living in the U.S. and the toll they take on longevity and quality of life.

The program enlists the cooperation of all or some of the elements of the community such as local government and education, corporate sponsors, fitness centers, personal trainers and the like that execute a proven methodology that makes fitness affordable to "all" and helps individuals achieve their fitness and healthy lifestyle goals.

The "Challenge" was the brainchild of former University of Tennessee varsity athlete Geoff Hampton who prototyped the program as a way to reach out and literally "wakeup" the nations sedentary and obese population. . It was later refined by internationally acclaimed wellness expert, Dr. Harold Elrick, MD, FACP, and has been in continuous improvement ever since with valuable input from celebrities, world champion athletes, members of the medical community and health/wellness professionals.

The Campaign is designed to enroll 500 sedentary individuals over a one-year period into a dynamic 90 day lifestyle intervention campaign that includes regular instructor led exercise classes and regular nutritional education classes.

Recent additions to the campaign's National Advisory Board include;

In each community there are immediate needs:

1. Interested community leaders to serve on the local Board of Director's (10).
2. Interested community leaders to serve on the local Campaign Advisory Board (10).
3. Interested health clubs, recreation facilities, churches, hospitals, community centers or other locations that would be interested in serving as participant locations where exercise classes and nutritional classes will be held.
4. Certified Group Exercise Instructors and Nutritional Counselors who wish to participate.
5. Corporations or Businesses who wish to participate as Platinum (1), Gold (5) or Silver (10) Campaign Sponsors.
6. Corporations or Large Businesses that wish to have their workforce participate in the Challenge.
7. Tee-Shirt, Printing and other campaign related strategic relationships.

More information about this dynamic campaign can be obtained online at www.fitcommerce.com/wellness or by e-mailing me at GEOFFLHAMPTON@aol.com.

Geoff would like to bring this campaign to your Rez. If you're interested in talking to him about it, please contact him at the above mailing address.

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