Get Up Go

Welcome to our News and Announcements page! We're excited about what's happening with the Get Up & Go Campaign and we want to tell you all about it. Check here daily for the latest news, announcements and events. (Click for more about our Campaign)
Get Up & Go... to the SWIC Belleville Campus Name the Mascot Contest Begins!!! Local Scout Troops Make Get Up & Go a Big Success!!!! Medical Alliance Gives $1,000 to Get Up & Go! Illinois Distributing Donates Signs,Banner for Campaign County Board Chairman Proclaims April 2008 Get Up & Go Month!
Get Up & Go Kickoff a "Chilly" Success! About 200 braved the blustery weather Saturday and participated in the official kickoff to the Get Up & Go Health and Fitness Campaign. With wind chills hovering in the 30's, the event was a true test of everyone's commitment to fitness. Campaign partners and sponsors were on hand to provide information and promotional items to the participants. Nursing students from the SIUE School of Nursing provided free blood pressure and BMI screenings, members of several local scout groups provided support and World Champion Craig Virgin provided the inspiration. (For more pictures of the event, you can click here to see a full photo-gallery.) In her opening remarks, campaign co-director Rita Arras reminded everyone of the importance of developing and keeping a healthy lifestyle. She also commented on how excited she was to see so many young people involved in the event. "Childhood obesity has become an epidemic," Arras said, "without doing something soon, our children may become the first generation in America to be outlived by their parents." Arras applauded the community for the tremendous support and attention that has been given this campaign. "It's truly overwhelming! I especially want to thank the News-Democrat for the wonderful job they have done in covering this campaign, and all of our sponsors and partners for making this possible." World Champion distance runner Craig Virgin also joined in and offered a few stories and words of inspiration for the participants. He told of how he had his own serious health problems as a child and was forced to take charge of his health if he wanted to live to be an adult. At 14 years old he started running and, as many of us remember, went on to be the fastest long distance runner in his school, in the state and finally in the world. (The record he set at the Olympic Trials in 1980 still stands as the fastest in history.) Virgin challenged young and old alike to set fitness goals for themselves and make the investment in time and effort to improve their lives. He encouraged everyone to use the month of April as a start to "Get Up & Go". "Start getting in shape, and then I want to see all of you at the Annual Law Day Walk/Run on May 3rd," where he promised "the weather will be warm, sunny and beautiful!" "Everyone from little children to senior citizens can participate. We have awards for each age group and a party with free refreshments and entertainment after the event." Virgin is the co-director for the annual event that raises funds for the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation. (For more information on the Law Day event, click here.) After the speeches about 100 joined in on a 1.5 mile walk led by the scout groups that included the Dr. Amlung Nature Trail at SWIC. While walking back through the woods with a light rain sprinkling down, a mother who had brought her young children along smiled and commented on how much she was enjoying herself. "The kids are the ones that really wanted to do this, but I think that I'm enjoying it as much as they are. And, it's something we can afford to do together anytime." The Get Up & Go Campaign runs through the month of April and is intended to increase awareness in the community of the benefits of a Healthy and Active lifestyle. Co-director of the campaign, Mark Peters, said "Our primary goal is to connect the people and organizations in our communities together so that they can support and help each other in building a healthier future. We want to strongly encourage everyone to get together and make this not just a campaign, but a way of life. I think today was a good start!"
Members from several area Scout troops did their good deed for the day giving Honorary Chairman Craig Virgin a hand with the event. They challenged everybody to "Get Up & Go!

Get Up & Go... to the SWIC Belleville Campus Judy Lauf, Director of Community Education at SWIC reminded everyone in attendance at the Get Up & Go event Saturday that the SWIC campus is a great place to walk, run, bike or just explore. "The community is welcome to come and take advantage of everything we have to offer." (www.SWIC.edu) Participants Saturday got a taste of just that with a 1.5 mile walk that included the Dr. Tom Amlung Nature Trail. This beautiful area is part of the MetroBikeLink Trail that begins at SWIC and runs for 4 miles connecting to the East Belleville Bikeway in Belleville. This is a paved route that offers comfortable and safe biking, walking and running. The east end of the trail begins at the SWIC Metrolink station (yes, bikes are allowed on Metrolink) and connects to the East Belleville Bikeway near Illinois St. (159) and Lebanon Avenue Downtown. You can find out more about this and other trails at www.BikeTrails.org	Walkers enjoy the chilly Spring air along the Dr. Tom Amlung Nature Trail. The Trail is part of the 4 mile MetroBikeLink Trail that crosses the SWIC campus in Belleville.
Medical Alliance Gives $1,000 to Get Up & Go! The St. Clair County Medical Society Alliance has given the Get Up & Go Campaign a grant of $1,000 to help "spread the word" for healthy and active lifestyles in St. Clair County. Jen DeJong, Vice President Elect of the Alliance was on hand at the March 19th Get Up & Go planning meeting and presented Rita Arras and Mark Peters, co-directors of the campaign, with the check. "We are very excited about all the momentum that this campaign is generating," stated DeJong "and want to do anything we can to help get the word out and encourage healthy, active lifestyles. The planning group thanked the Alliance for the grant and noted that the money came at a perfect time to help promote the many activities that are being organized by member groups and the Campaign's own kickoff event this Saturday at the SWIC campus in Belleville. Over twenty-five groups have already joined the campaign and several hundred people are expected to be on hand this Saturday for official kickoff at SWIC. The St. Clair County Medical Society Alliance works hard to support many healthcare projects throughout the county and the Get Up & Go Campaign is honored to have their help. You can find out more about the Alliance at www.stclairmed.org (Pictured left to right are: Kevin Hutchinson, Executive Director St. Clair County Health Department, Kathleen Thimson MSN, SIUE School of Nursing, Jen DeJong, St. Clair County Medical Society Alliance, Rita Arras RN PhD, SIUE School of Nursing and Mark Peters, Associate Director St. Clair County Health Department)
Illinois Distributing Donates Signs and Banner to Campaign
Illinois Distributing of Belleville, distributor of 180 Energy Drink, is helping the Get Up & Go Campaign get the word out with its donation of signs and banners for the effort. Rita Arras announced the donation at the last planning meeting and everyone on the campaign offers their thanks to Illinois Distributing. "Our hope is to put banners and signs in every community of St. Clair County in April," said Arras during the meeting. "This great example of corporate citizenship will help make that possible." Co-Director Mark Peters added, "The theme of this campaign is connected communities. That means not only government, but people, schools, churches and businesses. A healthy community benefits everyone and everyone needs to be involved. Contributions like this help us to build those connections." Click here to find out more about Illinois Distributing.	County Board Chairman, Mark Kern, Proclaims April "Get Up & Go Month!" Well it's official, April is now "Get Up & Go Month". Mark Kern, using his executive power as County Board Chairman has made it so. Citing the increased death and illness rates in St. Clair County from heart disease, diabetes and other chronic conditions and their relationship to stress, diet, obesity and lack of exercise, the county is officially promoting this campaign for health and fitness. You can read the full Proclamation here. Several of the cities and villages in St. Clair County have already indicated that they intend to issue similar proclamations and actively support both the Get Up & Go Campaign and its goal of Connected, Healthy and Active Communities. We congratulate them all and in the next few days we will be publishing their stories on this website.