The following is sponsored by Intermountain Medical Center.
Heart health is a family affair, and the 2016 edition of the Intermountain Medical Center’s My Heart Challenge is an opportunity for families in Salt Lake County to compete for better heart health – and 12 monthly all-admission/excursion family packs to Boondocks Food and Fun.
The Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Murray is looking for seven Utah families who want to improve their heart health for free by participating in the 2016 My Heart Challenge: Family Edition. The annual challenge is a 100-day contest to help participants strengthen their hearts by improving their lifestyles and reducing their risk of developing heart disease.
During the 100 days, participant families will work with experts from the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute to learn how to incorporate exercise into their lives, eat more fruits and vegetables and track their progress. They will work together as a family to support each other in making these vital changes that will collectively improve their overall health.
“The number of families impacted by heart disease is a growing problem in Utah and beyond,” said Donald Lappe, MD, chief of cardiology of the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute. “By making heart health a family focus, kids and parents can work together to support one another and enjoy the journey to better health for many years to come.”
To apply or get more information, visit myheartchallenge.org. The application deadline is Friday, March 4, 2016.
Participants will receive coaching and counseling from cardiac experts at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute – including exercise specialists, dietitians, and heart experts – to help them make positive, long-lasting healthy changes to their lives. They’ll also go through health assessments and testing at the beginning and end of the challenge to measure their accomplishments.
Salt Lake Valley moms, firefighters, school principals and elected officials from across Salt Lake Valley have taken part in previous editions of the My Heart Challenge.
Last year, the 15 participating moms lost a combined 216 pounds, in addition to reducing their total cholesterol, blood glucose, blood pressure, body fat, and waist circumference. They also influenced countless others to make heart-healthy and life-saving changes.
Families, consisting of two adults and two to five children between the ages of three and 18 living in the same household in Salt Lake County are eligible to apply.
Here’s how to apply:
- Visit MyHeartChallenge.org
- Complete the online application form, providing all required information
- Upload a 60-second video explaining why your family should be selected as one of the seven competing in the 2016 My Heart Challenge: Family Edition
Fifteen finalists will be selected from the entries and the submitted videos will be uploaded to Fox 13’s Website for an open voting period to determine the seven families who will compete in this year’s My Heart Challenge.
The seven winning families will be contacted on March 21, and the competition will officially launch on Thursday, April 14 following an orientation and initial baseline testing.
The My Heart Challenge: Family Edition is sponsored by the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute, Fox 13, Boondocks and SelectHealth.
