“How can we improve our family’s health with our busy schedule?” This is a question many parents face with work, kids in after-school programs and hectic schedules. Most of us know by the now the grim statistics on obesity and Type II Diabetes. Illinois ranked in the top ten states in childhood obesity. According to the CDC in Champaign County 27.7% of our children are obese.
What can we do? On July 17th you can join other families on a Health and Wellness Bike Ride in Urbana. The ride is being organized to help families find ways to include fitness in everyday activities such as bicycling to the park, the library, bicycling to a restaurant, or even the grocery store. Most of us do not realize how close many of our everyday trips are to our homes. Half of the trips we made everyday are within 3 miles or less and a bicycle is the perfect way to make those trips.
The ride is designed to be short, fun, and help families see that it is easy to bicycle to downtown Urbana, Phillips Recreational Center, Urbana Free Library, and Market at the Square. The bike ride is a self-guided tour. It will begin at the C-U Safe Routes to School Bike Rodeo being held at the Market at the Square starting at 9 a.m. Participating businesses and organizations on the route include:
- Common Ground Food Coop
- Courier Cafe
- Silvercreek
- Phillips Recreation Center
- Carle Park
- Urbana Free Library
A drawing for prizes will be held after the ride on the porch of Common Ground Food Coop at Market at the Square. Prizes include gift certificates, pool passes, a bike helmet, and t-shirts. So come and join the fun! You can preregister at: www.champaigncountybikes.org
If you have questions you can contact Cynthia Hoyle at [email protected]
Supporting organizations include: C-U SRTS Project, Champaign Urbana Mass Transit District, Urbana Business Association, City of Urbana, Champaign County Bikes, Prairie Cycle Club, Common Ground Food Coop, Courier Cafe, Silvercreek, Urbana Park District, and Urbana Free Library.