"Be Healthy Bloomington" with Go Red For Women Event and More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 7, 2008
For additional information, contact: Paula McDevitt, Recreation Services Director, Parks and Recreation Department, City of Bloomington, 812-349-3713 Maria K. Heslin, Deputy Mayor, City of Bloomington, 812-349-3569


Bloomington, IN - Mayor Mark Kruzan announced today that the City will promote its Be Healthy Bloomington theme by participating in the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women event on February 14, 2008, at the Indiana University School of HPER's Wildermuth Center.

"This year for Valentine's Day be kind to your sweethearts by encouraging them to learn more about heart disease and its prevention," Kruzan said. "Our Be Healthy Bloomington theme was instituted to encourage citizens to form more healthy habits, including habits that keep your heart healthy and strong."

Participants are encouraged to wear red to the February 14 event, which will feature a health fair, photo shoot for a billboard promotion, makeup tips compliments of Clinique, healthy snacks and door prizes.
City of Bloomington staff will be present at the fair and will give away Be Healthy bags to the first 100 attendees who stop by the booth. Also, City staff will provide informative materials and brochures related to health and wellness in Bloomington.

The Go Red event is co-sponsored by the City of Bloomington's Be Bloomington campaign, the IU School of HPER and The American Heart Association.

In addition to the Go Red event, City Hall and other City locations will participate in the American Heart Association's request for public places to "Go Red" by turning outside spotlights red during the month of February. City facilities sporting red lights include City Hall, the Utilities Department, Animal Shelter, Frank Southern Ice Arena, Banneker Community Center, Adult Community Center and the Allison-Jukebox Community Center.

The City also is encouraging local businesses to participate by exchanging regular lights for red lights in February. Call Derek Neff, Traffic Control Manager, City of Bloomington Traffic Division, at 349-3452 for information.

Additional Be Healthy events include:

• February 16 from 1-4 p.m. - 23rd Annual Children's Expo at Binford Elementary. The Expo features a variety of free health screenings for children, plus information about immunizations and other health-related issues. For more information visit www.bloomington.in.gov/parks or call 349-3700.
• February 20 from 7:30-9:30 a.m. - Well Check. Bloomington Hospital will host free, walk-in health screenings for blood sugar and blood pressure inside College Mall by Dick's Sporting Goods. Participants are required to fast for 12 hours prior to the blood sugar screening. For more information call 353-3244.
• February 23 from 1-3 p.m. - Sgt. Dave Rhodes from the IU Police Department will present a two-hour women's self-defense seminar to benefit St. Jude Children's Hospital. The seminar will be held in room 169 at the HPER Building on the IU Campus.

This two-hour seminar costs $25 with all seminar fees donated directly to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Participants who donate $35 will receive a St. Jude T-shirt; those who donate $75 will receive a St. Jude backpack. Individuals also can donate any amount they wish without attending the seminar.

St. Jude's is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. By participating in or attending the event, individuals will help raise funds for children who are stricken with diseases such as cancer, AIDS and Sickle Cell Anemia.

• Ongoing - The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department offers many fitness classes with sessions beginning in March. Classes include Fitshop, Tai Chi, Sole Train-Step Aerobics, Steady Steppers, Jump Start to Fitness, Focus on Fitness and Pilates. For registration information visit www.bloomington.in.gov/parks or call 349-3700.
• The City of Bloomington encourages anyone uninsured or those with uninsured family members and friends to learn about Governor Mitch Daniels' Healthy Indiana Plan at www.in.gov/fssa/hip.
• The City also encourages everyone to check out INShape Indiana, a personal fitness initiative designed to promote fitness both personally and in the workplace. Learn more at www.in.gov/inshape.

For more information, daily details and updates call the Be Bloomington hotline at 349.BBBB or visit www.bloomington.in.gov/bbbb. Community groups and organizations are encouraged to submit their theme-oriented events each month to bbbb@bloomington.in.gov.

# # #