Keep moving to improve your health

By Colleen Davis

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Get Moving for Healthy Kids, scheduled for Sunday at City High School in Iowa City, motivates me for many reasons. One great reason to participate is because it helps to promote Healthy Kids Community Care - school-based clinics in the Iowa City Community School District to provide health care to students without access to medical care.

Sponsorship funds for this event - which includes a variety of races, walks and health and fitness activities - are matched dollar for dollar by an endowment fund set by Mercy Iowa City through the Community Foundation of Johnson County. Allocations from this endowment supplement the generous support already received through the United Way of Johnson County to provide the operating funds for these clinics.

What motivates you? I keep myself moving for many reasons, but the big ones are for my spouse and kids because it makes me feel better physically, emotionally and mentally. Many people exercise in order to sleep better, breath better and move more easily.

I have had the privilege to meet some highly self-motivated people, including Mark Allen, six-time Ironman Triathlon World Champion. You'll likely never see me try this, but I think that is pretty cool.

But what motivates me just the same is when I see a person jogging or walking who doesn't look like a marathon runner. Someone who looks like me, a mother of three with an average build, just trying to stay in shape.

I am excited to participate in the Get Moving for Healthy Kids Day and you should be, too! I am going to get my family up and moving and hope to see you there. Please join us, all ages, with your friends, extended family and neighbors.

Registration forms can be printed from our website, www.community

foundationofjohnson

county.org. Or you may call the Community Foundation of Johnson County at (319) 337-0483 to register.

My goal is to get you moving today. Walk or jog for 30 minutes, or for 10 minutes three times a day. Do it tomorrow, and the next, every day.

Last year, at our premier event, a walker made her way through West High School's parking lot at a later finish time. Cheered on by a cross country team member on the route, she replied to him, “I think I've cut off 45 minutes from my last 5k event!”

On behalf of the Healthy Kids Community Care, and Get Moving for Healthy Kids, I invite you to get moving, too.

Colleen Davis, of Coralville, is chair of Get Moving for Healthy Kids. She is a University of Iowa graduate and works as a financial representative who resides in Coralville. Comments: http://colleen

davis.nmfn.com/