London, ON – Building regular physical activity into every day is the first step on the path to a healthier life, sometimes all you need is the motivation to get going. That’s the goal of the second annual in motion™ Physical Activity Community Challenge which gets underway today. After a successful inaugural Challenge in 2013, during which London residents spent more than 2 million minutes being active, this year’s edition is being expanded to include municipalities across Middlesex County. By answering the call to add 15 minutes of physical activity to each day in October, in motion™ organizers hope local residents taking up the Challenge will make the region “Canada’s Healthiest Community”.

The in motion™ Physical Activity Community Challenge is a broad-based community initiative whose goal is to promote healthy and active living in London and Middlesex County. Middlesex-London in motion™ is once again making its successful mobile app available to help participants track their progress and total number of physical activity minutes. The app can be downloaded through the app store or available at www.inmotion4life.ca. Paper tracking forms are available online, at London and Middlesex County libraries, community centres and London Family Centres.

“One of the benefits of the in motion™ Challenge is that anyone can take part, whether you’re already very active, or if you’ve just been looking for a reason to get up off the couch,” says Mary Lou Albanese, Chair, Middlesex-London in motion™. “Last year we had more than 2 million minutes of activity throughout October and we think we can top that total in 2014. Whether you’re a child, an adult, or an older adult, you can take up the Challenge in your own way and start on the road to better health.”

Physical activity minutes tracked using the in motion™ mobile app will be added up as they are entered, while minutes logged on completed tracking forms will be added to the community total in early November.

"When people take the Challenge, they are improving their health, reducing stress and gaining more energy, as well as building community.” says Mary Lou Albanese “I think the community is going to find that adding at least 15 minutes of physical activity to their day is easy and that being active is a habit that will be carried on long after the Challenge ends.”

Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit, 519-663-5317 ext.2469 or 519-617-0570 (cell.)

Spokespeople:
Mary Lou Albanese, Chair, Middlesex-London in motion™
Tony Kyle, Manager, City of London