GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Special Olympics Michigan State Summer Games are just around the corner and the unique event aligns perfectly with Blue Cross Blue Shield's mission of making Michigan children healthier and their #MIKidsCan campaign initiative.
The summer games is the largest Special Olympics Michigan event with 2,900 athletes and over 3,000 coaches, volunteers, family members and spectators attending each year.
The event will be take place at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant on May 30 through June 10, 2019.
There are ten types of competitions offered at the State Summer Games each year, including volleyball, as well as developmental athletics and motor activities training program. The event is one of six annual statewide competitions for the athletes of Special Olympics Michigan. Athletes and families can participate for free.
Blue Cross' mission is to help the young lead healthier lives and why it's important. Childhood obesity is a huge problem in the United States and in Michigan.
At Blue Cross said that Michigan has the 12th highest obesity rate for youth ages 10 to 17 and nearly one in three Michigan children is statistically overweight or obese.
Today, more than 12 million U.S. children are obese - one out of every six children. The latest data show that the national childhood obesity rate among 2-to-19-year-olds is 18.5 percent.
Children with obesity are at higher risk for having other chronic health conditions and diseases that impact physical health, such as asthma, sleep apnea, bone and joint problems, type 2 diabetes, and risk factors for heart disease.
Events like the Special Olympics Michigan State Games support Blue Cross’s ongoing commitment to children’s health through its MIKidsCan (pronounced My Kids Can) campaign – a statewide initiative that calls on everyone in Michigan to help the kids in their lives develop healthy habits – like eating right and being active for 60 minutes every day
Blue Cross values experiences and opportunities to engage kids in building healthy habits and becoming inspired to do great things in their lives. Throughout the year, Blue Cross promotes positive change in the health and well-being of Michigan youth through many events across the state
The MIKidsCan campaign is a part of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s ongoing efforts to help Michigan families make good choices leading to healthier lives.
Since 2009, we’ve helped more than 340,000 students in more than 750 schools learn to make healthier choices and be more physically active through our Building Healthy Communities program
The kids that participate in our Building Health Communities program have significantly lower obesity rates, they eat 40 percent more fruits and vegetables than the national average, and they get 35 minutes more physical activity per day than the average kid.
To learn more visit ahealthiermichigan.org to find out how you can help the kids in Michigan develop great nutrition and exercise habits so they can become healthy adults.
Fans today can use the hashtag, #MIKidsCan on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to share their stories, advice and pictures on how their kids live healthier.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
If you would like more information about advertising with 13 ON YOUR SIDE, please contact Jeff Olsen at jolsen@wzzm13.com.