getmoving at Healthy Kids Day during Public Health Month Event 4/16/2011

FROM A WINNEBAGO COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT PRESS RELEASE:

It’s a Play Date: for the getmoving YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day/During Public Health Month Celebration. Aims to Get Families Moving Through Play and Wellness Activities

[ROCKFORD, IL 4/8/2011] – On Saturday, April 16, Rockford’s YMCA along with the Winnebago County Health Department are encouraging all kids and parents to come to the Y for a play date and commit to being active and healthy every day. It’s all part of the YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day™ – the nation’s largest health day for families.

The free public event will take place at the YMCA Northeast Branch, 8451 Orth Road, Loves Park from 9 AM to 12 Noon. Featured activities include the Healthy Kids Day Interactive Health and Fun Fair, Healthy Concessions, the Y’s Inflatable Obstacle Course, Climbing Wall, and Family Center activity games. The Healthy Kids Day Fun Run will take place at 11 AM. Day of registration for the run takes place from 9 AM to 11 AM. The cost to participate in the Fun Run is $8.00.

As a leading nonprofit strengthening community through healthy living, the Y holds Healthy Kids Day to teach healthy habits to kids and inspire a lifetime love of physical activity. At a time when one in three children in the United States are overweight or obese (according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), developing healthier habits that include increased physical activity is more important than ever. Good nutrition is vital to good health, disease prevention, and essential for healthy growth and development of children and adolescents. A diet of nutritious foods and a routine of increased physical activity during childhood can set the stage for a healthier adulthood.

“At the Y, we know that parents struggle to find the time to incorporate more active play and healthier habits into their kids’ daily routine,” says Gayle Dixon, Program Director, and YMCA of Rock River Valley. “Doing so doesn’t have to require extra money or resources. It’s as simple as making a play date with your kids, with two key requirements – be active and have fun!”

This year marks the first of a partnership between the Y and the Winnebago County Health Department. The Health Department is also celebrating National Public Health Month throughout all of April. This partnership brings with it many more fun health activities for children and adults. For children, this includes a tooth brushing demonstration, information on access to dental care, vision screenings, nutrition education, back pack safety demonstration, home and sport safety education, healthy environment education and much more. The first 200 families will also receive a special gift to take home and enjoy for the rest of the summer! Adults can get a Healthy Heart Screening (Lipid & CMP Panels) for the price of $15. These tests require a ten hour fast and we recommend drinking plenty of water.

Healthy Kids Day will be celebrated at nearly 1,600 Ys across the country, with more than 700,000 families expected to attend this year. Last year over 280 families participated at the Rockford event, this year we expect over 300 families.

Healthy Kids Day is supported by Dean Foods, Runner’s Image, Coca-Cola, Kiwanis, Rockford Health System, and Maverick Media. In addition, the Northeast Branch is proud to host representatives from Getmoving Now Partners and the Winnebago County Health Department who will be offering interactive games during at the Healthy Kids Day Fun Fair.

Nationally, Healthy Kids Day is supported by the Dodge brand, PepsiCo and Sam’s Club.

For more information, contact the Y at 815-489-1253 or visit www.rockfordymca.org/events, or call Sue Fuller, Public Information Officer at the Winnebago County Health Department at 815-720-4213.

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