Newspaper Editor Challenges Elected Officials to the Ultimate Health Challenge for 2010
Contact: Michael Simmons FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tel. (662)843-2700 January 11, 2009
Cell: (662)402-1436
Email: michael@theclevelandcurrent.com
CLEVELAND—Michael Simmons, Editor of the Cleveland Current, has challenged local elected officials and community members, Mayor of Cleveland Billy Nowell and the board of alderman; and President of Delta State University, Dr. John Hilpert and the university’s senior cabinet along with the Cleveland School Board, including superintendent Dr. Jackie Thigpen to a health and wellness challenge for 2010 beginning Monday Jan. 11.
In an effort to promote a grant received by Delta State from BlueCross BlueShield that funds programs to encourage health and wellness in one of the nation’s unhealthiest regions, Simmons has extended an invitation to a healthy competition for the city of Cleveland. Based on percentages of overall health and weight loss, a winner will be determined after a full year of exercise programs, more nutritional eating plans and an overall healthier lifestyle.
If the elected officials weigh in at a lower percentile of weight loss and overall health after the year’s time frame, the City of Cleveland will proclaim Simmons’ birthday, March 5, Michael Simmons Day.
Simmons requested that a specific age group of children are let out of school for the day, a parade is put together, the City of Cleveland gives a formal proclamation and Hilpert pays for the celebration on the Quadrangle of Delta State’s campus in Simmons honor.
In addition to challenging the local officials, Simmons extended the challenge to the entire Cleveland community allowing any one to sign up and participate under “Team Cleveland.”
While adults are welcome to join in under the title and participate in the healthy challenge, children also have the opportunity to take part under Simmons’ team. Though their losses will not count towards his overall percentile, the number of children that sign up and participate will add extra points. The age group that the most students sign up under will be the group that is invited to the Quadrangle to celebrate in Michael Simmons Day.
Community members have until March to sign up and begin to participate in the ultimate health challenge for 2010.
To stop the threat of Michael Simmons Day and sign up to fight for a healthier community or find out more information call (662) 846-3000 and ask to speak to the Healthy Initiative office.
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