Mayor to Lead Residents in a Virtual Physical Activity Challenge to Boost Physical Activity Nationwide
Mayor Ruben Pineda is joining eighteen other mayors in a nationwide initiative to reduce heart disease and stroke, the nation’s No. 1 killer, by encouraging residents to get up and get moving. Mayor Pineda will kick off West Chicago’s third annual Move with the Mayor™ (MWTM) series of physical activity offerings aimed to foster community and help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease across the City. Due to COVID-19 and the need to social distance, this year’s MWTM activities will be virtual.
“The National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention tells us that being physically active can have numerous benefits, such as reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke,” said Mayor Pineda. “Still, it can be hard to fit physical activity into our daily routines. That’s why I’m hosting a series of virtual physical activity events for our residents to show that fitting 30 minutes of activity into even a hectic daily schedule is possible and can be incredibly rewarding.”
MWTM, a partnership between the City of West Chicago, Healthy West Chicago, and the National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention, encourages residents to join the Mayor in a physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day during the months of August and September.
Heart disease, according to John Clymer, executive director of the National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention, is the leading cause of death in the U.S., killing approximately 610,000 people each year. It does not have to be that way because three of every four people can prevent it through healthy diets, living smoke-free and increased physical activity, such as walking, he says. Research shows that moving for just 30 minutes a day can help combat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, three of the biggest risk factors for heart disease affecting about 47% of all Americans. “Seventy-one million Americans do not get enough physical activity in their daily lives, and that increases their risk for heart disease and stroke,” said Clymer. “And by getting up, getting out, and walking more — perhaps from one meeting to another or other ways in their daily lives — a person can reduce his or her risk and have a longer, more active lifestyle.”
Mayor Pineda agrees, and says his goal is to motivate West Chicago residents to walk or move to improve their cardiovascular health. “While we continue to practice social distancing throughout the months of August and September, I urge West Chicago residents to find a form of physical activity they enjoy and stick with it. Whether it’s taking the stairs, dancing, swimming, or bike riding, let’s get moving, West Chicago,” said Mayor Pineda. “By doing our part, we can help build a healthier, more dynamic community.”
Mayor Pineda’s kick-off to the Move with the Mayor™ virtual challenge starts on August 1, 2020. For more information visit www.healthywestchicago.org or www.nationalforum.org/collaborations/mwtm/
ABOUT THE NATIONAL FORUM FOR HEART DISEASE & STROKE PREVENTION
The National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention brings together the most dynamic and diverse organizations in cardiovascular health, providing a forum and outlet for organizations to amplify their voices. Our members currently represent more than 80 national and international organizations from the public and private healthcare organizations, as well as faith, advocacy, academic, and policy settings. The National Forum is an independent non-profit, 501(c)(3), voluntary health organization. To learn more, visit www.nationalforum.org.
