Lehigh Valley Health Challenge

Paging through yesterday’s Morning Call I came across a full page ad for the Lehigh Valley Health Challenge which benefits the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The Health Challenge is a call to action for people who are relatively new to a fitness lifestyle and looks like a great motivator. If you know of anyone, family or friends, who have recently made the switch from sedentary to active, or someone who might need a good kick in the behind, do them a favor and mention this program to them.

Here is the basic gist:

Teams of two people each (50 teams total) sign up for the LV Health Challenge. They each pay $100 ($200 per team) which in actuality is a donation to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. In return they receive 24-7 Fitness Clubs membership for three months at all four locations, an assigned personal trainer, online nutrition program, access to fitness classes and the opportunity to win an awesome grand prize! Each team will be awarded points for club attendance, fitness class participation, eating healthy, voting and fundraising for MDA.

Sounds like a really great deal to me.

This is from the Muscular Dystrophy website:

Make a Muscle. Make a Difference. Take part in The Valley’s Health Challenge and get on your way to achieving your fitness goals. Use your muscles to support those who are suffering from progressive muscle wasting diseases. Find a partner and get set to take on The Valley’s Health Challenge. Not only will your participation be providing hope to those fighting muscular dystrophy, but you’ll receive: 24-7 Fitness Clubs membership for 3 months good at all 4 locations, a personal trainer, online nutrition program, access to fitness classes, and the opportunity to win an awesome grand prize! Your team will be awarded points for gym attendance, fitness class participation, eating healthy and fundraising for MDA. Join today and hit all your fitness goals! Sign up soon, participation is limited to the first 50 teams!!

Contestants can earn points in three ways:

1. Fitness & Nutrition
2. Fundraising
3. Voting

How to obtain points

First Component is Nutrition & Fitness, which is equal to 60% of the total:

1. Attendance – For every day a participant comes to the gym: 1 pt.
2. Attend fitness class (maximum of 8 points): 1 pt. for each class attended
3. Attend aqua class (maximum of 1 point): 1 pt. for each class attended
4. Take a racquetball lesson (maximum of 1 point): 1 pt.
5. Enter a meal plan for a full day: 1 pt.
6. Set up a meeting with your trainer: 1 pt. 1 initial meeting – 4 follow-ups (one every other week) and a 1 final meeting for a total of 6 points.
7. One point for every area of improvement on the post-assessment – weight – measurements – cardio – strength – flexibility – Total 5 points

Second Component is Fundraising for MDA, which is equal to 20% of the total: Teams earn points for Fundraising by raising money for MDA, above the initial donation: 1 point for every dollar raised – online, or can be turned in at the conclusion of the program.

Third Component is Voting for your favorite team, which is equal to 20% of the total: Teams earn points for Voting by people voting by text or online. Teams earn 1 point for every text or online vote. People can vote up to 10x a day.

Grand Prize includes:

* 1 year Platinum family membership to 24-7 Fitness Clubs
* 1 year subscription to the Morning Call
* Garmin Watches
* TC Salon Spa Makeover
* Private cooking demonstration with chef/owner of Relish
* 1 year supply of Deer Park Water
* Dinner with an MDA family

Take part in The Valley’s Health Challenge, and make your way to a healthier lifestyle. Use your muscles to support those who are affected by progressive muscle-damaging diseases. Find a partner and get set to take on The Valley’s Health Challenge. In order to take part in the challenge, you need a team of two people. Unfortunately, you can’t participate as an individual, or with a team of more than two people. To be eligible to participate, you must be 14 years or older, have a basic knowledge of using a computer, and fitness must be relatively new to your lifestyle.

You can learn more about the Lehigh Valley Health Challenge here:

Informational site – www.mcallcommunity.com/challenge
Registration site – secure.mdausa.org/healthchallenge