Elgin kicks off monthlong activities promoting health

Elgin residents can partake of a host of free activities and educational programs aimed at helping them adopt healthier lifestyles.

As part of the Activate Elgin citywide initiative, March into Health month will feature 20 programs and activities offered at various times and partner sites throughout the city through March 28.

"We are very concerned about the health of our residents" Mayor David Kaptain said. "And it has been proven that the best way to be healthy is through staying active and eating properly. I want to encourage all Elgin residents to participate in the March into Health activities so they can reap the rewards of good health."

Programs include:

• Monday, March 8 - Fit For Kids, a Kane County-wide initiative through the Rethink Your Drink educational campaign. It promotes healthy beverages and lifestyles for children and families and will run from 5 to 7 p.m. at Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove.

• March 15 - Walking as a Way of Life health fair and presentation for senior citizens at Judson University. It will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the foyer and Room 101 of the Lindner Fitness Center, 1151 N. State St., Elgin. Presence Saint Joseph Hospital will host Let Your Goal Get You on a Roll to Healthy Living, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 77 N. Airlite. The session will conclude with developing individual eating plans using materials provided. To register, call (847) 622-2095 or visit presencehealth.org/stjoseph-elgin.

• March 22 - Judson University will host a screening of the documentary "EveryBody Walk!" and a preview of the Mayor's Community Walking Challenge in the Thulin Performance Hall at the Thompson Center on campus.

For a complete list of activities, visit activateelgin.org.

The Mayor's Walking Challenge begins on National Walking Day, April 6, and ends on National Employee Health and Fitness Day, May 18. Kaptain's goal is for 1,000 or more people to join him to walk a cumulative 210,000,000 steps - amounts to 7,000 steps per day for five days a week. To register for the challenge, visit activateelgin.walkertracker.com. Residents can create teams to compete against each other, record steps and track their progress online.