Get Up Go

It’s Time to Get Up & Go!!!

We all say it. We want to get in shape. We want to drop those extra pounds, tone up or just feel better about ourselves. We all say it! Now there’s someone helping us do it. Actually there’s over 20,000 ‘someones’ in St. Clair County that are going to help. That’s the number of people so far that are taking part in the 1st Annual Get Up & Go Health and Fitness Campaign.

All across St. Clair County groups of people, some as small as a family and some as large as a high school or even a whole village, are joining in to share their enthusiasm, share their resources and help everyone to Get Up & Go. Groups are sharing walking and running events, biking and hiking outings, dancing and cooking events, even aerobics and martial arts guidance are being offered free to encourage everyone to get active and get healthy.

What started as an idea, or an acorn as co-director Mark Peters of the St. Clair County Health Department calls it, has grown to a budding oak with the overwhelming response and support of the people of St. Clair County. “We are doing so much more than just motivating people; we are actually connecting communities together in a common goal. That goal is to get healthy, get active and have fun.”

With the help of World Champion and Olympic distance runner Craig Virgin who donated his time to act as Honorary Chairman, the Get Up & Go Campaign has reached into virtually every part of St. Clair County. First and Second grade classes are setting aside part of each day for health and fitness activities and to discuss the importance of healthy eating. Entire schools are planning Get Up & Go days to highlight health and fitness for students. Nursing homes are arranging for residents to participate in walking and outdoor events. Mayors are proclaiming April "Get Up & Go Month". There’s even a village that is recruiting its citizens all to join in a daily walking program for health.

Business and other organizations are also getting active. Some are forming walking and fitness groups among their employees. Others are donating the much needed resources to help the rest of the community get in shape. The corporate citizenship has been tremendous! Nursing students and health organizations have provided free health screenings at events. Professionals are giving free fitness and training instructions, and both public and private organizations are donating their facilities and products to support health and fitness events in St. Clair County.

And all of this has not gone unnoticed. St. Clair County and the Get Up & Go Campaign has been singled out by the State Director of Public Health, the CDC and even a regional leadership institute as a shining example of “doing things right!”

So isn’t it time that you Get Up & Go? Join the fun, get healthy, support your favorite cause, or just spend some quality time walking with family and friends. It doesn’t matter what you do, just do it! You can find out more about the Get Up & Go Campaign and get ideas and connections on the web at www.GetUpGo.info There’s room for everyone including more volunteers. We want to count what you do, because what you do counts!