2,500 WNC students ready to begin Subway ‘Fit for Life’ challenge

Press Release

From The Summit Group for Subway:

ASHEVILLE, NC, November 4, 2013 – SUBWAY® national spokesperson Jared Fogle has recruited some help in his fight against childhood obesity, thanks to a new program sponsored by local SUBWAY® restaurants. Local leaders are heading back to the classroom in an effort to inspire students to be healthy and active, every day.

Beginning National Eating Healthy Day on Nov. 6 and continuing until Thanksgiving, over 2,500 students in classrooms across Western North Carolina will begin tracking their healthy eating and physical activity choices. Over 50,000 students in the Carolinas region are participating in the challenge.

Local leaders, who will join the students in the SUBWAY® Fit for Life 15 Day Challenge and provide some motivation along the way as “Fit Buddies,” are:
Jon Clemmons of the Asheville Tourists at Fletcher Elementary School in Fletcher;
Sandi Hartz of YMCA of Hendersonville at Hendersonville Elementary School in Hendersonville;
Luke Notestine of WLOS-TV at Charles D. Owen Middle School in Swannanoa;
Health and Wellness Promotion students Kayla Presnell and Erin Sattler of UNC Asheville at Mars Hill Elementary School in Mars Hill;
McDowell Hospital, a part of Mission Health, providers include- Maureen Ben-Davies, MD, MPH, Angie Allen-Helms, CPNP, Karen Olson, MD, Zane Kalter, MD and Courtney Morris, CPNP from McDowell Pediatrics; Rachel Click, DO and Lindsay Herbert, DO from Community Medicine Old Fort – at Eastfield Global Magnet School, East McDowell Junior High School and West Marion Elementary School, all located in Marion; and
Kristin Maney of YMCA of Western North Carolina, also working with participating McDowell County schools.

“The small eating and physical activity decisions we make every day can have a big impact on our health. Encouraging kids to make healthy choices early in life will help them grow up to be happy and healthy adults” said Maureen Ben-Davies, MD, MPH, McDowell Pediatrics. “We are committed to caring for our community’s youth and excited to participate as Fit-Buddies for the students who have elected to take this challenge.”

According to the American Heart Association, 68 percent of adults and 33 percent of children ages 2 to 19 are overweight or obese.

It was 15 years ago that Fogle lost close to 245 pounds. In 1998, he started appearing in national commercials for SUBWAY® restaurants and has since become known as “The Subway Guy.” He has inspired millions and most important he has kept the weight off.

The community is invited to take the SUBWAY® Fit for Life 15 Day Challenge and tracking forms are available online at www.Fitfor15.net.