IDEA Inspires Global Fitness Community to 'BE the Transformation' Through New Partnership with Challenged Athletes Foundation

IDEA Inspires Global Fitness Community to ‘BE the Transformation’
Through New Partnership with Challenged Athletes Foundation

San Diego – April 12, 2012 – IDEA Health & Fitness Association, the world’s leading organization of fitness and wellness professionals, is launching a new partnership that will inspire the world to fitness.

In recognition of IDEA’s 30th Anniversary, the global fitness leader wants to inspire the fitness community to ‘BE the Transformation’ they wish to see. As the theme of this year’s 2012 IDEA World Fitness Convention™ “BE the Transformation,” expresses the core of IDEA’s vision for the future: that fitness professionals have tremendous power to transform themselves and inspire their clients to make significant life changes.

That is why IDEA is proud to partner with the Challenged Athletes Foundation® (CAF) to transform a young boy’s life this summer. For the first-time ever, IDEA is inviting its members, as well as the global fitness community, to help raise $20,000 to provide a running leg to a special nine-year-old challenged athlete – Timur Normatov. Working with Össur and SCOPe prosthetics, CAF will provide a Flex-Run™Jr carbon fiber running foot and Total Knee®, giving Timur the freedom to run and thrive like other kids his age.

As the guiding force in the health, wellness and fitness industry since 1982, IDEA’s partnership with CAF is a pivotal part of the 30th anniversary celebration that will be held at this year’s World Fitness Convention, July 5-8, 2012, in San Diego, CA. The four-day extravaganza will bring together and inspire thousands of the industry’s elite professionals, leaders and educators to reflect on the evolution of the health, wellness and fitness industry, while looking ahead to redefine its future. As a special part of this year’s opening ceremonies, IDEA and CAF will present the new running leg to Timur.

A true survivor, Timur was discovered by his American sponsor, Desireé Lesicko, at an orphanage for children with disabilities in Uzbekistan. Timur was left there after a doctor had told his parents he had died, when in fact he was a congenital leg amputee. In 2005, Timur was reunited with his parents and in 2006, he was flown to California for limb revision surgery. IDEA’s donation will help Timur return to California this summer for further treatment related to this prosthetic device.

“He is a uniquely amazing child,” says Desireé Lesicko, Timur’s American sponsor. “On his application, Timur stated his motivation for wanting a running leg, ‘I want to play with the other kids and be able to run. I like to run, but all the time I fall down. Other children laugh at me, and I want to show them I can run. When I grow up, I want to be a doctor.’”

“This year is a major milestone for IDEA as we celebrate our 30th anniversary and we’re excited to inspire the world to fitness through this special partnership that will transform a young boy’s life,” said Kathie Davis, IDEA’s co-founder and Executive Director. “We’re honored to partner with CAF, whose mission is dedicated to helping challenged athletes around the world to become more active.”

As a long-time supporter of CAF, IDEA is dedicated to empowering challenged athletes who look to physical fitness and competitive athletics as a way to stay active and independent. IDEA is calling on members of the fitness community to help raise $10,000 and in return will match that funding to make the special donation to Timur possible. Members of the fitness community can make a tax-deductible contribution by visiting http://TeamIDEAforCAF.kintera.org/.

For more information on IDEA’s new partnership with CAF or the 2012 IDEA World Fitness Convention™, please visit http://TeamIDEAforCAF.kintera.org/.

About IDEA Health & Fitness Association
IDEA Health & Fitness Association is the world's leading organization of fitness and wellness professionals. We deliver world-class content and continuing education to fitness professionals through three channels: our five publications, including the award-winning IDEA Fitness Journal; our world-class fitness conferences; and hundreds of streaming videos and DVD courses available on our website www.ideafit.com. Additionally, with IDEA FitnessConnect, we have created the largest national industry-wide directory linking over 250,000 fitness professionals to more than 16 million consumers. Through IDEA professionals in over 80 countries, we "Inspire the World to Fitness®."

About Challenged Athletes Foundation
The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) is a world leader in helping individuals with physical challenges get involved – and stay involved – in sports. CAF believes that participation in sports at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence and enhances quality of life. Since 1994, more than $36 million has been raised and more than 6,100 funding requests from challenged athletes in all 50 states and dozens of countries have been satisfied. Additionally, CAF’s outreach efforts reach another 60,000 individuals each year. Whether it’s a $2,500 grant for a handcycle, helping underwrite a carbon fiber running foot not covered by insurance, or arranging enthusiastic encouragement from a mentor who has triumphed over a similar challenge, CAF’s mission is clear: give those with the desire to live active, athletic lifestyles every opportunity to compete in the sports they love. To learn more, log on to www.challengedathletes.org or call 858-866-0959.