The “Show Me City” is gearing up to have some fun focused solely on families and fitness! During September and October, the City is participating in a statewide health initiative “It’s Time Texas Healthy” at H-E-B Community Challenge—which encourages people to be active and live a healthier lifestyle. Starting Sept. 1, individuals can visit www.hebcommunitychallenge.com to sign up.
Locally, the contest will feature two main activities:
• A Community Health Fair: Sept. 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Tennis and Recreation Center, 2701 Cypress Point Dr. Participants will be treated to cooking demonstrations, an outdoor farmers market, flu shots, exercise classes, XBOX 360 Fitness and more. For additional information, call 281.403.8637.
• A Call to Get Active: In a rally to get citizens involved and promote healthy living in the area, “Show Me City” Mayor Allen Owen has issued a friendly fitness challenge to Sugar Land Mayor James Thompson and both will vie to showcase their cities’ commitment to wellness in the eight-week contest.
“We can really win this,” Mayor Owen said at the Aug. 20 City Council meeting, announcing the City’s involvement. “This is a great program.” During the meeting, he and fellow Council Members signed the IT’S TIME TEXAS Healthy at H-E-B Community Challenge Pledge—part of the eligibility to participate.
The program works on a point system and residents can visit the Challenge website to share their activities, thereby building their community’s overall score. Communities will be divided into three categories based on population: small (0-100,000), medium (101,000-300,000) and large (300,001 and above). The cities with the most points in each category will win.
Four main audience types can help generate points for their city: (1) Mayor, (2) Schools, (3) Businesses, Agencies and Community Organizations, and (4) Individuals. The more events these groups participate in or host, the more points the City gains. All activities will be tracked on the Challenge website and winners will receive special recognition from government officials, media coverage and a sign designating their accomplishment.
The competition “spotlights and rewards the many health and fitness activities and initiatives happening in communities across the state,” said John Waterman, Manager of Marketing and Communications for ACTIVE Life, an Austin-based non-profit spearheading the project.
Expanding the program’s reach in the community, Missouri City has teamed up with Fort Bend Independent School District representatives to bring the message to the classroom. “We’re happy to be part of a program that gets kids excited about health and fitness,” said Stephanie Kellam, UnitedHealthcare Activate for Kids School District Wellness Coordinator in Fort Bend ISD. “It’s great to see the community and schools working closely together on this healthy initiative.”
Houston Community College also has committed to being involved. “We are proud to be a member of the Healthy at H-E-B Community Challenge, which promotes a healthy way of living,” said Andrew Johnson, Campus Manager at HCC in Missouri City. “Our goal is to educate the mind and body, because a healthy body leads to a healthy mind.”
For details on the project and upcoming events, visit the City’s website www.missouricitytx.gov; watch Missouri City Television (Ch. 16 on Comcast and Ch. 99 on AT&T U-verse) and join the Twitter conversation #ItsTimeMCTX.