Health

Exercise is Medicine™

To make physical activity and exercise a standard part of a disease prevention and treatment medical paradigm in the United States.

For physical activity to be considered by all healthcare providers as a vital sign in every patient visit, and that patients are effectively counseled and referred as to their physical activity and health needs, thus leading to overall improvement in the public's health and long-term reduction in healthcare cost.

WebMD provides valuable health information, tools for managing your health, and support to those who seek information.

American College of Sports Medicine
…Advancing health through science, education and medicine
Much more than a slogan, the American College of Sports Medicine puts into practice its strategic efforts to advancing the health of all. As the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world, ACSM has more than 20,000 International, National, and Regional Chapter members.

CC Founder/President Gary Westlund is American College of Sports Medicine Certified Health/Fitness Instructor

CC Charities Partners

Bolder Options
Bolder Options matches at-risk youth with adult mentors to train for and complete three 5K races or 15-20 mile bike rides. Mentors & youth also work on academic goals, participate in community service and attend community events.

Diabetes Exercise & Sports Association
The Diabetes Exercise & Sports Association (DESA) is a non profit service organization whose members include persons with diabetes who participate in fitness activities at all levels, health care professionals, and all who are interested in promoting exercise in the diabetes care plan.

Diabetes Institute for Immunology and Transplantation
Since the first pancreas transplant was performed here in 1966, the University of Minnesota has been dedicated to finding solutions for people with diabetes. The Diabetes Institute for Immunology and Transplantation was founded in 1994 to develop and implement cures for diabetes through the disciplines of transplantation and immunology.

Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation
The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation seeks to improve cardiovascular health through education and clinical research.

Presentation by Charities Challenge (CC) of contribution to Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (MHIF) from shared proceeds from the 2004 Guidant Heart of Summer 5k & 10k races.

Pictured: George Kroeninger and Lea Howard of the MHIF, CC Coach Joe Wirth, Race Director of the Guidant Heart of Summer 10k and 5k Races, CC Coach Jeanne DeMartino and Gary Westlund, President, of Charities Challenge.
Photo by Tom Literski

CC Health/Fitness Partners

Maxwell Fitness and Personal Training
CC Board Member-Coach & Trainer, Kim Maxwell, MS, and Certified ACSM Health/Fitness Certified. In addition to regularly training with her fellow CC Members and our CC Guests, Kim offers her professional training and exercise expertise to all of us whenever she's in our company. Thank you Kim for your RxExercise leadership to us and to so many others!
 
Kim is a full-time fitness professional providing a variety of effective, fun, and convenient local training sessions for individuals and groups.

Midwest Events
Midwest Events promotes aerobic sporting events via a bi-monthly magazine, a website, and special events like the Minnesota Multi-Sport Awards Banquet honoring achievements by Minnesota athletes in triathlon and duathlon.

Minnesota Association of USA Track & Field

Minnesota Distance Running Association
The Minnesota Distance Running Association is Minnesota's largest running organization with over 3000 members. The MDRA is a member club of USAFT (US Amateur Track and Field).

The MDRA sponsors races and supports good race management throughout Minnesota. The MDRA publishes the Running Minnesota Annual, the most complete race schedule in Minnesota. The MDRA sponsors training programs for marathon training, beginning runners and women's programs. It also sponsors Dome Running, Grand Prix Series races, has a free Annual Party in January, and offers free sponsored races during the Spring.

Race Walking in Minnesota

Road Runners Club of America
The Road Runners Club of America is a a non-profit organization whose mission is to grow and support the sport of running

Twin Cities Race Walkers
Twin Cities Race Walkers is a club that promotes race walking in and around the twin cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul in Minnesota. We each use race walking for our own goals, including competition, challenge, exercise, stress relief and weight loss.
Twin Cities Race Walkers was founded and is led by CC Member and Race Walk Coach Bruce Leasure.

Advocacy/Fundraising

Beads 2 Treasure - Making a difference in peoples lives by creating jewelry to spread awareness and raise funds for various causes.

Country Lights Candles - Wonderful 100% Soy Candles that burn cleaner and longer. These candles come in many fragrances and make great gifts and are easy to sell. We specialize in fundraisers.

In Kind Contributors to CC Challenge Events

Professional Photography

Wayne Kryduba Photography