Palatine challenges its residents to take simple actions

If you live in Palatine, there's no excuse for not kicking off the year on a healthier note.

Palatine's Great American Health Challenge has begun.

It's a new initiative of the American Cancer Society, which has partnered with Palatine and 15 local groups to spread awareness on being healthier and reducing cancer risks.

Palatine is the sole Illinois community with such a program. The suburb was chosen because of its success in enacting a strict smoking ban before the state did, along with the popularity and success of events like the annual Relay for Life.

"What's so unique about this is that it involves all aspects of the community," said Maggie Osborne of the American Cancer Society's Northwest suburban office.

For months, community leaders from local groups have been meeting to organize the challenge, all overseen by Mayor Rita Mullins. The first major event kicks off Feb. 1 through the Buehler YMCA. It will sponsor the "Average Joe" triathlon, which runs for a month.

The activity is a twist on a normal triathlon, which includes up to 140 miles of swimming, running and biking. The "Average Joe" event encourages people to meet their goal through activities such as aerobics, family swim time, basketball or even walking their dog.

The YMCA has already been hosting the triathlon on its own the past two years for members. But as part of this Great American Health Challenge, it's open to the entire community for free.

"We know this is very successful on our own," said Buehler YMCA director Laura Brown. "This is the perfect chance to expand it."

If the yearlong wellness program is a success in Palatine, the American Cancer Society will look to replicate it in communities throughout the state, officials say.

According to the cancer society, at least 50 percent of cancer deaths could be prevented through healthy lifestyle factors, challenging the notion that people can't do much to avoid the disease.

Measures like maintaining healthy body weight, eating better, exercising, limiting the consumption of alcohol, not smoking or using other tobacco products and getting screenings help prevent cancer, experts say.

Taking the challenge

Palatine's Great American Health Challenge focuses on cancer prevention goals around the themes of "Move," "Nourish," "Check" and "Quit," and has sponsored activities around each goal:

Move. Goal: Be physically active most days of the week and strive for 30 minutes of exercise on five or more days. Activity: Average Joe Triathlon at Buehler YMCA. Entire community is encouraged to participate. Info at (847) 359-2400 or buehlerymca.org.

Nourish. Goal: Eat healthy, well-balanced diet that includes whole grains and five or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily and limits consumption of red, high-fat and processed meat. Event: Healthy Taste of Palatine takes place 3-6 p.m. March 29 at Whole Foods, 1331 N. Rand Road, featuring cooking demos and information.

Check. Goal: Find out which cancer screening tests are appropriate for you based on age and family history and discuss with your doctor. Event: Harper College's Wellness Week, April 15-17, offers free health checks.

Quit. Goal: Stop smoking or join the fight against tobacco. Activity: Northwest Community Hospital plans a smoke-out challenge and other related events in May.

For more information on the health challenge, call Maggie Osborne at (847) 368-1166. More information will be available later this month at palatine.il.us.