Jon Stanton

I'm so happy to be part of the team working on making this year's Community Partners in Health Winter Warm-Up and the 2010 Winter Warm-Up with the Blues' Community Challenge be a success! Our goal is to have as many mid-Michigan residents moving on a regular basis during the winter months and working toward health and fitness!

Our signature event kicked off last week at the Lansing Mall. The 10-week walking program takes place every Saturday morning until March 27 from 9am to 10am. I will be present to lead "Jon's Walking Buddies" - a group focused on walking to lose weight.

If you can't make it to the Lansing Mall, guess what? Join me in downtown Lansing on Wednesdays from 12:00pm to 12:30pm for a half hour Satellite Group walk. If that doesn't fit your schedule either, then find one of the dozens of Satellite Groups forming throughout our region. Some are indoors, some are outdoors, but all have one goal in mind - GET MID-MICHIGAN MOVING!

We're especially excited this year to have the support of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan who has sponsored a contest with $8,000 being given in grants to 10 mid-Michigan communities! The grand prize winner will receive $2,500 for a project related to health or fitness in their community!

To find out more about these three events, or to sign up to participate in any or all of them, visit Community Partners in Health's website, www.cphlansing.com.

For any readers who live on the west side of the state, my good friend and fellow walking advocate Jodi Davis will be present at an event in Holland tomorrow. Here's part of the post from her blog about the event. Visit Jodi at www.walkytalk.com for great tips, inspiration and advice!

From Jodi's blog..."And if you happen to live on the western side of the state, I would like to invite all of you to a FREE family health event that will be taking place at the Holland Civic Center this Saturday, January 30th, 9 am – 12 pm.  This is an event to help you learn easy and affordable ways to eat better, exercise more, and have FUN!  At the Holland Health Fair, there will be giveaways, health food samples, fast-food “the healthy way,” raffles, fitness demonstrations, interactive martial arts demonstrations, healthy shopping tips, blood pressure screening… and for the children: the incredible / inflatable “Crazy Bounce!”

And bring your camera!  The former NFL and University of Michigan football star JAY RIEMERSMA will be there, signing autographs and speaking on the importance of fitness!  Don’t miss this opportunity of a lifetime!  I will also be there answering your questions about walking, weight loss, and good health… I hope to see you there!"