American Heart Association kicking off BetterU Challenge
The American Heart Association Southwest Florida Division is kicking off a 12-week BetterU Challenge for those who are looking to improve the health of their heart.
Monica Seif, social events specialist for the American Heart Association Greater Southeast Affiliate, said the free 12-week online Go Red BetterU Program is not a new challenge. She said this year they created two new initiatives for the challenge, which includes asking individuals to create teams, along with the selection of winners.
“Individuals should take part in the BetterU Challenge to better their quality of life and improve their health,” Seif said. “By participating in the challenge with a group of friends, they can challenge each other and hold one another accountable.”
Teams of five individuals can join the challenge from now until Oct. 22.
The free 12-week program must be completed by Jan. 14, 2012. To sign up for the challenge visit www.GoRedForWomen.org.
After individuals sign up on the Go Red For Women website, they need to email Seif at Monica.Seif@heart.org with “BetterU Challenge” in the subject line. Once Seif receives the email, the participant will receive a nomination form to be submitted at the end of the challenge, an exercise band, workout kit and a voucher good for a Lee Memorial Health System clinic visit to “know your numbers.”
Seif said once the teams have completed their 12-week challenge, they need to submit their team nomination form to Monica.Seif@heart.org with “BetterU Challenge” in the subject line, or fax Attention Monica Seif to 239-495-4919.
“All applications must be submitted by Friday, Jan. 20, 2012, to qualify for prizes,” she said. “The grand prize for the winning group is tickets to attend the American Heart Association’s 2012 Go Red For Women Luncheon on May 23, 2012, at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Estero.”
The challenge, which will begin on Oct. 1, was announced at the American Heart Association Go Red breakfast last Friday.
“We know that employees from Lee Memorial and Arthrex who are the sponsors of this challenge will participate along with 35 people that said they were interested in doing the challenge at Friday’s breakfast,” Seif said.
She said she is confident the challenge will attract more individuals as the word gets around.
The online program will focus on a different areas of health, along with providing step-by-step guidance along the way for those who participate in the challenge.
“The American Heart Association wants to recognize teams of individuals making healthful changes that positively impact the quality of their life and improve their overall wellness,” Seif said. “That is why we have created this challenge.”