Help a Challenged Athlete Get Into the Game
For many years, IDEA has been a supporter and an advocate for the Challenged Athletes Foundation® (CAF). Several of our Inspiration Award recipients through the years have been CAF people whose stories of determination and triumph have moved and inspired us incredibly.
CAF’s mission is “to provide opportunities and support to people with physical disabilities so they can pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics. CAF believes that involvement in sports at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence and enhances quality of life.”
Last October, six IDEA staff members formed two triathlon relay teams and raised close to $4,000 to support CAF in the 2011 San Diego Triathlon Challenge. They swam, cycled and ran alongside athletes of true grit who were missing limbs, who were blind and deaf or who were otherwise physically challenged. It was a day of goose bumps, smiles and joyful tears. Many of the athletes would not have been able to participate had it not been for the support of CAF and all the wonderful programming and equipment it provides to aspiring challenged athletes.
Would you like to provide a physically challenged individual with the opportunity to achieve his or her sport goals and help make a long-held dream come true? Would you like to give another the special gift of running all out for the first time? IDEA has recently partnered with CAF and has pledged $20,000 from our IDEA fitness community to pay for a new prosthetic limb that will be presented to a challenged athlete at the 2012 IDEA World Fitness Convention™ Opening Ceremonies.
How you can make a difference. You can help us achieve our goal of raising $10,000—IDEA will match the funds—and change the life of a challenged athlete. To make your tax-deductible contribution, please send your check, payable to the Challenged Athletes Foundation, to IDEA Health & Fitness Association, Attn. CAF, 10455 Pacific Center Ct., San Diego, CA 92121. We will highlight our progress on the IDEA website (www.ideafit.com) and in IDEA Fitness Journal. Thank you for helping us in this most worthy endeavor of inspiring the world to fitness!
Speaking of the 2012 IDEA World Fitness Convention, make sure you read the fitness event preview in this issue highlighting some of our top-line plans to blow the roof off the San Diego Convention Center as we celebrate our 30th Anniversary! Your brochure arrived with last month’s issue, and sessions are already filling up, so be sure to register early to secure the best pricing and to get a spot in the classes at the top of your list. You can earn up to 20 CECs while you also network, party and have a fantastic vacation in beautiful San Diego, home to IDEA’s headquarters. All details, as well as the brochure, can be found at www.ideafit.com/fitness-conferences/idea-world-fitness-convention.
Finally, are you aware that it’s National Nutrition Month®? Each March, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the ADA) puts attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. What are you doing to bring such awareness to your clients? The key messages featured in this year’s “Get Your Plate in Shape” campaign can be found at www.eatright.org/nnm/content.aspx?id=5342 and may give you good ideas for driving the message home to those you serve. Like exercise, we believe whole foods and a balanced, moderate diet are the real medicine most people need to be healthy.
IDEA observes National Nutrition Month with this, our annual issue with feature stories devoted to your continuing education on the topic. On a more regular basis (bimonthly), you should now be receiving our brand-new IDEA Food & Nutrition Tips e-newsletter. It debuted in January, and the next issue is due out later this month.
We are looking forward to hearing your feedback on these topics or whatever is on your mind. Please stay in touch by writing to [email protected].
Yours in health,
Kathie & Peter Davis
