The Coachella Valley Health Collaborative kicks off its 2013 Healthy Lifestyle Challenge in January. Nearly 2,000 Coachella Valley residents participated in the collaborative’s 2012 Challenge recording more than 500 million steps (or 242,000 miles!). Participation doubled from the year before and is expected to increase significantly in the Challenge’s third year.

Geared toward local organizations, businesses and residents, the Challenge is a community call-to-action around living a healthier lifestyle.   The Challenge was developed to help improve the health of Coachella Valley residents by promoting physical fitness and exercise.

The collaborative’s interactive website records an individual’s activity and converts it into steps on interactive maps. Individuals can see their progress and how they match up against others participating in the various challenges. Individuals can challenge themselves or friends and colleagues by walking, running, swimming, hiking, biking and even shopping!

The 2012 Challenge saw 125 organizations, including valley cities and companies (from 2 employees to thousands) compete for internal prizes, as well as the Collaborative’s “Best of the Best” award. A panel nominated by the Collaborative considers all programs submitted for this special award and elects the most successful campaign based on meeting objectives and producing results. “Best of the Best” will once again be presented in October 2013.

Sponsored by the Desert Oasis Healthcare, the website is free for all and designed to motivate people to improve their health by becoming more active. Challengers can track their progress online, communicate with other participants online, and receive weekly motivating reminders and health tips.

Whether you are an HR manager, a group leader, a family member or an individual motivated to improve your health, all Coachella Valley residents are encouraged to “create a challenge” and participate in this free program.

All are also welcome to attend the kick-off breakfast being held Wednesday, January 9 from 7:30a – 9:30a at the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences at Eisenhower Medical Center.  To RSVP for the breakfast, please contact Regina Garrison at the Collaborative (760) 341-2883 x78144.

The mission of the Coachella Valley Collaborative is to provide a meaningful forum for individuals, agencies, and organizations to improve the health and well-being of residents of eastern Riverside County.  Serving diverse communities of the Coachella Valley through education and public advocacy, the Coachella Valley Health Collaborative is a catalyst to improve the health status of all residents and their accessibility to quality, state-of-the-art health care. A major goal is to improve health by increasing community collaboration and decreasing duplication and fragmentation of services.

The collaborative is supported by grants from the Desert Healthcare District, Desert Oasis Healthcare, Regional Access Project Foundation and Kaiser Permanente. The Cal State San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus provides professional oversight, financial services, office space and other services.

To register for the challenge, visit www.mywellsite.com/cvhc. For more information about the Coachella Valley Health Collaborative, contact Gary Jeandron, Project Director, at (760) 341-2883, ext. 78163, e-mail [email protected]

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