[Nfbmo] Members of the NFB of Missouri to Participate in National Fitness Challenge

Thu Apr 6 18:48:00 UTC 2017

I meant to post this on the listserve on Tuesday, but I just did not have the time. The following is a press release going out to promote the NFB of Missouri's participation in the National Fitness Challenge. The United States Association of Blind Athletes gave us a template press release. Robin House and I filled in the blanks. You will easily be able to tell which paragraphs were written by us and which came with the template. Feel free to distribute to any media contacts you might know.

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For Immediate Release

Contact: Daniel Garcia, Chair Public Relations Committee
National Federation of the Blind of Missouri
(816) 621-0902
dangarcia3 at hotmail.com

Blindness Does Not Hold Missourians Back from Being Physically Active and Living a Healthy Lifestyle
Members of the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri Will Participate in National Fitness Challenge

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (April 4, 2017) - The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) of Missouri is pleased to partner with the United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) and the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation to implement the fifth iteration of the National Fitness Challenge. This year, USABA is partnering with 13 agencies across the United States, including the NFB of Missouri, to provide more than 300 blind and visually impaired teenagers and adults with an opportunity to increase their physical fitness levels, as well as live healthier and more active lives. 

Obesity and sedentary lifestyle are two of the biggest health concerns across the United States. Both are more prevalent among individuals who are blind. The Sports & Recreation Division of the NFB works diligently to raise awareness of health concerns related to exercise, nutrition and wellness. The division serves as a network of experts to help blind people break down barriers to full participation in sports, recreation and exercise. It's also a great source of support for gyms, community recreation programs, and others in the health and wellness arena who want to make their services more accessible to the blind.

Research has consistently shown that individuals who participate in regular physical activity to improve their health have higher energy levels, a lower risk of health-related diseases, improved psychological health, and lower rates of depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, because of the many barriers and misconceptions about their abilities, approximately 70 percent of the nearly 56,000 children and youth who are blind and visually impaired in the United States do not participate in even a limited physical education curriculum.

"We are very excited to be participating in the National Fitness Challenge," said Robin House, member of the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri Lewis & Clark Chapter in St. Louis and Chair of the state's Sports & Recreation Committee. "By using the Fitbit during daily physical activities as well as during our seven week National Fitness Challenge Meet-ups, we will show both our members and the public how blind people can be as physically active as everyone else. This partnership with USABA and the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation is already atracting new members to the NFB who are passionate about sports and living a healthy lifestyle."

Members of the NFB from across the state will participate in the 25th Annual Run for Sight 5k run and 2-mile walk sponsored by the Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments. This event will take place on Sunday, May 7, starting at 9 a.m. at the Ballpark Village in St. Louis. NFB of Missouri members are also planning to participate in the Gateway Cup cycling events which are held every Labor Day Weekend in St. Louis with the aid of tandem bicycles. There are also plans underway to have a Paralympic Day; more information will be forthcoming. 

In addition to grant funding, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation will provide volunteers at events across the state during the 9-month program. Local employees will have the opportunity to meet participants and help them achieve their health and wellness goals.

"The Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation is committed to helping children and adults live active lives and avoid the health risks typically associated with sedentary lifestyles and obesity," said Steve Martenet, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri. "We believe no one should ever be denied the right to enjoy the physical and emotional benefits associated with exercise, and we are proud to once again partner with USABA to ensure that vision impairments do not limit the recreational opportunities afforded to teenagers across the country."

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About National Federation of the Blind - Missouri
The National Federation of the Blind believes that blindness does not hold us back from participating in and having access to sports, recreation & wellness related opportunities. http://nfbmo.org/ | Twitter: @nfb_mo7 | Facebook: National Federation of the Blind of Missouri

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation
Through charitable grant making, the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation LLC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, promotes Anthem's inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield serves. The Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that address and provide innovative solutions to health care challenges, as well as promoting the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets specific disease states and medical conditions. These include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company's year-round Associate Giving program and its parent foundation provides a 50 percent match of associates' pledges. (r)ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.