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)

Whiteside Students Open Their New Playground With A Visit from FREDBIRD!

The Students of Whiteside School got to open their new playground extension this week in style, with a visit from St. Louis Cardinals favorite team-mate Fredbird. Students showed their Cardinal spirit by sporting bright red Cardinals shirts and everyone got a chance to Get Up & Go have fun. (See the Slide show)

Whiteside School PTC and volunteers (including the Get Up & Go co-director Mark Peters) spent last Saturday working with area contractors to install the new equipment at Whiteside. The volunteers also raised nearly $28,000 to pay for the new extension. The overall goal of the program was to provide the students and the Whiteside community with a full compliment of safe and creative playground equipment. (Read More)

St. Louis Cardinal Fredbird and some Whiteside students decide to check out the new playground equipment. For more pictures of the fun, check out the slide show (click here)

Schools Sign Up to Give Get Up & Go a Great Start.
Schools across St. Clair County have signed up with the Get Up & Go Health and Fitness Campaign and given it a great start. From a First Grade class at Scott Elementary School to the entire Belleville West High Scholl, the number of students that have joined this health and fitness campaign so far is in excess of 4,000... and growing daily. At the annual Dr. Scrivner Foundation dinner this week, Dr. Rita Arras, PhD, to a moment during her speech to comment on the overwhelming support that the schools have shown for this program. "With child obesity now listed as a national epidemic, our first goal has to be to encourage healthy diet and an active lifestyle in our children. We must Get Up and Go!" Later that evening while introducing the guest speaker (and our own Honorary Chairman) Craig Virgin, she again noted, "the response from the schools and teachers has been completely overwhelming." These sentiments were echoed by Craig Virgin and the several of the other dignitaries at the dinner.

While some schools are using the Get Up & Go campaign to reinforce the activities and health awareness that is already part of their curriculum, others are planning major events to bring the message home with their students. According to Joe Ballard, Scott Elementary School is planning a day of fitness testing, similar to the Presidential fitness program, and a school wide Get Up & Go walk dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyle choices. Bob Dahm, principal at Belleville West High School has informed us that they will be sponsoring the 2008 Race for Character at Belleville West on May 10th and has invited Get Up & Go to join the activities that day by celebrating the Get Up & Go Recognition party after the race on the Belleville West campus. While the details are still being worked out, it looks as though a thousand or more people could be on hand for a day long celebration of fun, fitness and healthy lifestyles.

But the participation isn't limited to just whole schools and major events. Many classes from around the county have joined in with their own Get Up & Go programs. Some are using the "Name the Mascot" contest as way to focus on health and fitness in the classroom, and have fun doing it. Others have created their own fitness program as part of the campaign and are logging their efforts to share with the reat of us. Miss Suzanna Phelps 1st grade class at Scott Elementary has reported that in addition to participating in the contest, "We are walking each day for 10 to 15 minutes and logging the miles we walk on the Walk Across Illinois website. On bad weather days we are doing balance activities in the classroom."

"It's so wonderful to see such a diverse response from the schools." According to Mark Peters, "We have had schools sign up from Marissa to Belleville, from Scott AFB to Swansea, and from first grade to high school. I really think that we have a chance of getting nearly every school in the county involved, and that would be incredible!" We'll if this week is any indication, we might just see that happen.

Communities Proclaim its time to GET UP & GO!!!

The Village of East Carondelet is one of the first to make it official, as is Belleville, and the other communities are following their lead. Mayor Simmons is proclaiming April as Get Up & Go Month and a link to this website has already been posted on their village website www.villageofeastcarondeletil.webs.com The village will be encouraging citizens of all ages to take part in a walking program for their health.

Margaret Simmons, wife of Mayor Simmons said, "This is a great idea. My husband went through weight loss surgery last September and has been walking to stay fit. Since then he has lost 132 pounds. This couldn't have come at a better time."

Other communities have joined the Village in proclaiming April as Get Up & Go month and encouraging their citizens to get involved in health activities. Belleville Mayor Mark Eckert personally presented Get Up & Go co-director Mark Peters with Belleville's Proclamation during this weeks city council meeting. Mayor Eckert has also informed the campaign that city employees will be participating in a number of activities including a "Biggest Losers" challenge. Good luck to all!

O'Fallon, Swansea, Caseyville and Fairview Heights have also stepped up. Check back this week for a complete list of participating communities and what they have done to Get Up & Go! (If your community isn't on the list then maybe they need a nudge from you!)

Mayor Mark Eckert of Belleville Issues Get Up & Go Proclamation

Communities that have Proclaimed April as
Get Up & Go Month

City of Belleville

City of Fairview Heights

City of O'Fallon

St. Clair County

Village of Caseyville

Village of East Carondelet

Village of Swansea

4th Annual Scrivner Dinner Provides Big Push to Get Up & Go

The 4th Annual "Spring Into Health" dinner sponsored by the Dr. Willard C. Scrivner Public Health Foundation held this Thursday provided another big push for the Get Up & Go campaign. The dinning room at the Four Points Sheraton was filled wall to wall with dignitaries and leaders in public health. Although the purpose of the dinner is to recognize some of the outstanding individuals for their contributions to public health, it also serves as a rallying point for determining the direction of public health in the coming year. That direction was a resounding 'Let's Get Up & Go!"

Speaker after speaker reminded us that the purpose of public health is to build healthy communities. Public health begins with the people and encouraging healthy lifestyles, good nutrition and overall physical fitness is the key to a healthy community. From Dr. Damon Arnold, the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, to World Champion Craig Virgin, Dr. Rita Arras and even Reverend Annie Clark the rallying cry was the same, "it's time to Get Up & Go!"

While many of the organizations and groups represented at the dinner have already signed up to participate in the Get Up & Go campaign, there were still a significant number that were getting their first real exposure to it. An information table staffed by our tireless student nurses greeted the evening's guests and the Get Up & Go Challenge was given to all. Several dozen took up the challenge and signed up on behalf of their organizations or themselves to participate in the campaign. (To be added to our participant list shortly.) They will join the 60 plus groups and over 10,000 people that Dr. Rita Arras reported have already joined the challenge.

You can see pictures from the Event in our Scrivner Dinner slideshow (click here). For more information about the Dr. Willard C. Scrivner Public Health Foundation or if you would like to contribute to their cause, visit them online at www.WCScrivnerFoundation.org

Mark Peters, Dr. Rita Arras and Craig Virgin...Our Get Up & Go Leaders

News Archives

Honorary Chairman and Hall of Famer Craig Virgin to Speak at Annual Health Foundation Dinner

Even Man's Best Friend Wants You to... Get Up & GO!!!

The American Cancer Society has joined the Get Up & Go Campaign.

Communities Proclaim its time to GET UP & GO!!!
Village of East Carondelet Helps Lead the Way

Kick-Off a Chilly Success

Get Up & Go... to the SWIC Belleville Campus

Volunteers Build New Playground Extension at Whiteside.

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 Event set for Saturday March 29th, 2:00pm at SWIC Belleville Campus