Lighten Up Wisconsin Participation Ahead Of Last Year, Still Time To Register

Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation (WSDC) is excited to announce that the registration numbers so far for 2007 have surpassed the final total for 2006. As of January 23rd almost 8,000 Wisconsinites have put their teams together, registered, and gotten active. Lighten Up Wisconsin kicked off on January 15th but there's still time to register.

"We are really pleased with our numbers so far," stated Jordan Bingham, Director of Health Initiatives for WSDC. "We're pretty confident that we'll surpass the 10,000 participant mark this year. The more we can get the message out to the state's citizens the better."

Lighten Up Wisconsin is a 17-week team challenge that encourages small, realistic and permanent changes to dietary and exercise habits, resulting in positive health changes that will last a lifetime. 2007 marks the 4th year of Lighten Up Wisconsin's statewide initiative.

"Lighten Up Wisconsin helps people make incremental changes in their diets and lifestyles that lead to big changes down the road. It teaches people not to diet, but that a healthy lifestyle is just that, a lifestyle," noted Bingham. "For those that may still want to participate, but haven't yet registered, registration will be open until March 15th." Registration for 2007 Lighten Up Wisconsin is open until March 15, 2007. To learn more about Lighten Up Wisconsin and for registration information visit www.lightenupwisconsin.com or call 608-226-4780. Lighten Up Wisconsin is presented by Ministry Healthcare and Unity Health Insurance and is supported by American Family Insurance, the WEA Insurance Trust and Hydrite Chemical.

Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation is a nonprofit sports management organization that helps develop sports tourism in Wisconsin and promotes positive lifestyles and physical fitness through amateur athletic events and health education programs. WSDC properties include the American Family Insurance Badger State Games, Paddle and Portage, the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, Shape Up Wisconsin Kids, Lighten Up Wisconsin and the Fit Kids Challenge. WSDC is also the local host of the Ford Ironman Wisconsin triathlon.