| For Immediate Release |
CONTACT: |
| March 30, 2007 |
Nicole Carkner, QCHI, 563-421-2815 |
Quad City Health Initiative Launches Moon Walk 2007
Today, March 30, 2007, the Wellness Champions of the Quad City Health Initiative (QCHI) launch Moon Walk 2007 at the John Deere Planetarium on the campus of Augustana College. In a hotly contested rematch of the top contenders in last year’s Moon Walk, Moon Walk 2007 will pit the Quad Cities against Peoria in a virtual community “double or nothing” race equivalent to two round trips to the moon or 954,800 miles.
The Moon Walk started in Peoria in 2003. Last year in its inaugural race, the Quad Cities bested Peoria by completing a round trip to the moon in only 5 weeks. Over 6,341 Quad City walkers ultimately accumulated more than 1 million miles during the 13-week event. This year’s race will officially end June 29, 2007.
In the QCA, 103 teams and over 3,000 individuals are expected to participate in QCHI’s Moon Walk 2007. These Moon Walkers will keep daily logs of their mileage and report weekly to Team Captains who will in turn report to Mission Control (QCHI). Every week during the race, Mission Control will total our community’s miles and check-in on the progress of our competitors in Peoria. The community can track our progress at www.qchealthinitiative.org .
“We are very excited about organizing the Moon Walk again this year,” says Nicole Carkner, Project Coordinator for Quad City Health Initiative, “because the Wellness Champions are committed to helping Quad City residents make healthy choices regarding diet and exercise. The Moon Walk is a fun way to start exercising or reinforce the importance of daily exercise to maintaining our health and preventing disease. Moreover, we couldn’t turn down a rematch with Peoria!”
The Peoria Area Labor Management Council is organizing the race in Peoria. The winner of the race will possess the coveted Moon Walk Walking Stick trophy for the year.
QCHI gratefully acknowledges the following organizations that have pledged or contributed in-kind support to Moon Walk 2007:
| Active Endeavors |
Genesis Health System |
| Advantage Advertising |
Heritage Foods |
| Augustana College/John Deere Planetarium |
Kunkles Sports Center |
| Community Health Care, Inc. |
Rock Island Regional Office of Education |
| Dick’s Sporting Goods |
Temples Sporting Goods |
| Dunham’s Discount Sports |
Trinity Regional Health System |
A list of the teams that are participating in Moon Walk 2007 is given at the end of this release.
In QCHI’s 2002 Community Health Assessment, obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol (all risk factors for cardiovascular disease) emerged as critical issues for the health of our region. Since December 2002, the Wellness Champions team has been working to reverse these trends by promoting daily exercise, nutrition and regular screenings for health risk factors. The Wellness Champions team includes about 81 individual representatives from 57 organizations across the Quad City community.
The Quad City Health Initiative (QCHI) is a community partnership in active pursuit of a healthier community. The Initiative seeks to be a catalyst for improving the health and overall quality of life within the Quad City community. The Initiative raises awareness of health issues, encourages or creates projects to address gaps in health services and fosters community collaboration in all aspects of health. Major financial sponsors of the Initiative are Trinity Regional Health System and Genesis Health System. Additional financial support is provided in 2007 by Modern Woodmen of America. For more information or to join the efforts of the Quad City Health Initiative, please call 563-421-2815 or visit our website at www.qchealthinitiative.org.
The following teams are participating in Moon Walk 2007:
| Alzheimer's Association |
John Deere Fitness Center |
| American Red Cross |
Katun Corporation |
| Arc of Rock Island County |
KJWW Engineering Consultants |
| Asbury United Methodist Church |
Lafarge North America |
| Augustana College |
Liberty Fitness Women's Health Club |
| Bethany for Children & Families - Moline |
Lujack's |
| Bettendorf Presbyterian Church |
McLaughlin Body Co. |
Bi-State Regional Commission/Scott
County Kids |
MetroLink |
| CADS |
Metropolitan Medical Laboratory |
| Cambridge United Methodist Church |
MidAmerican Energy |
| Capri Clinic |
Mississippi Bend AEA |
| Captain Bob's Lunar Launch |
Moline Dispatch Publishing Co., LLC |
| CASI |
MVDA |
| CHC |
Nichols Aluminum |
| Church of Peace |
Norcross Safety Products Inc. |
| Churches United |
Performance Food Group |
| City of East Moline |
QCHI |
| City of Moline |
Quad City Bicycle Club |
| City of Rock Island |
Quad City Sports Center |
| Cleaveland Insurance Group |
R.I./Milan Head Start/Preschool Programming |
| Colona Park District |
Reynolds Grade School |
| Community of Joy United Methodist Church |
Riverside United Methodist |
| Davenport Schools |
Rock Island Arsenal - PM SKOT/Tools LCMC |
| Deere & Company World Headquarters |
Rock Island Arsenal/ARDEC |
| Deere-CFD |
Rock Island County & Scott County Medical Societies |
| Deere-Cylinder |
Rock Island County Health Department/Rock Island
County staff |
| Deere-PDC |
Rock Island County Regional Office of Education |
| Deere-Seeding |
Royal Neighbors of America |
| Dept. of Human Services of Scott County |
Russell Construction Company |
| Family Resources |
Scott County Family YMCA |
| First Baptist Church |
Scott County Family YMCA - Bettendorf |
| First Baptist Church SAS |
Scott County Health Department |
| First Presbyterian Church, East Moline |
Sherrard School District |
First United Methodist Church
(Rock Island) |
Signature Management Co. |
| Friendship Manor |
Skip A Long |
| Friendly House |
St. John's Lutheran Church |
| Genesis Family Medical Center |
The Sedona Group |
| Genesis Health Group - Pediatrics |
Trinity Lutheran Church/Journey His Weigh |
| Genesis Health System |
Trinity Regional Health System CSP |
| Genesis Occupational Health |
Trinity Regional Health System-7th Street Employees
Satellite Location |
| Genesis VNA |
Trinity Regional Health System-7th Street Satellite
Location Only |
| Glenview Middle School |
Trinity Regional Health System-Terrace Park Employees &
Satellite Location |
| GMC DeWitt Satellite |
Trinity Regional Health System-West Campus Employees &
Satellite Location |
| GMC Illini Satellite |
Trinity Regional Health System-Work Fitness Center |
| GMC Volunteer Satellite |
Two Rivers YMCA |
| Gold’s Gym |
United Methodist Church |
| Grace United Methodist Church |
United Way of the Quad Cities Area |
| Hansen Elementary School |
US Army Corps of Engineers |
| Hayes School |
Valley Bank |
| Hy-Vee Food Stores |
Waste Commission of Scott County |
| Isle of Capri |
WQAD-TV NewsChannel 8 |
| Jefferson-Edison Elementary School |
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