Gear up and get your bike tuned for the virtual “Tour de France” Challenge!

Get on your helmets and bike shorts and get ready to a race around the rolling hills of France! The Coachella Valley Health Collaborative kicks off its second 2013 Healthy Lifestyle Challenge April 1 – July 31 with the “Tour de France” Challenge.

This virtual interactive challenge follows the 2011 Tour de France route starting in the seaside town of Passage du Gois La Barre-de-Monts, and traversing through the French countryside before finishing at the famous Champs-Elysees in Paris. As participants log their steps and physical activities, they will enjoy online pop-ups at all 21 stages of the route including fun site-specific facts and information.

Geared toward local organizations, businesses and residents, the Challenge is a community call-to-action around living a healthier lifestyle through physical fitness and exercise. 1,996 Valley residents are taking part in the first Healthy Lifestyle Challenge, “Rock Your Way to Wellness,” which kicked off February 1 and runs through April 30. Participating teams include students, staff, employees and or members at Cathedral City Elementary, the Braille Institute, City of La Quinta, Go Bike USA, Joslyn Senior Center, Family YMCA of the Desert, Southwest Community Church, Spinal Injury Center, Two Bunch Palms, and UCR Palm Desert to name a few.

Developed by the Coachella Valley Health Collaborative, the website records an individual’s activity and converts it into steps on interactive maps. Participants track their progress online, communicate with other participants online, and receive weekly motivating reminders and health tips. Individuals can challenge themselves or friends and colleagues by walking, running, swimming, hiking, biking – and even shopping!

Sponsored by Desert Oasis Healthcare, the website is free for all and designed to motivate people to improve their health by becoming more active.

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. 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 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].