NBA Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins and America’s Got Talent winner Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. will join Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and other special guests to celebrate WV Physical Activity Day at the State Capitol on Thursday, Jan. 19. The event also celebrates the launch of ActiveWV 2015: The WV Physical Activity Plan.

According to organizers, the plan promotes physical activity to improve the health and quality of life for West Virginians.

“We are thrilled to have the Governor, West Virginia representatives, Dominique Wilkins and other special guests join us in support of increasing physical activity in the state,” said Eloise Elliott, Ware Distinguished Professor at West Virginia University’s College of Physical Activity & Sports Sciences and chair of of the Plan Coordinating Committee.

“The West Virginia Plan is receiving national attention because we are one of two states taking the lead in developing plans modeled after the National Physical Activity Plan launched in 2010.”

Others attending include: Russ Pate, chair of the National Physical Activity Plan and Jackie Epping from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Spokespersons representing U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, U.S. Rep. Shelly Moore Capito, U.S. Rep. Nick Joe Rahall, and Sen. Joe Manchin will attend the event.

WV lawmakers will join Gov. Tomblin to emphasize the importance of policy and environmental changes designed to increase physical activity participation of all citizens.

The Capitol Rotunda will be filled with physical activity demonstrations and a fun run will begin from the Capitol steps at 1:30 p.m. For a list of activities and to learn how to get involved, go to www.wvphysicalactivity.org.

Statewide activities will coincide with the events at the Capitol. More than 78,000 students in 235 schools from nearly all 55 West Virginia counties will participate in a popular line dance called the Cupid Shuffle at 1 p.m. to call attention to the importance of physical activity. The statewide celebration will also include 11 community-based events. Thirty five counties have also signed resolutions supporting WV Physical Activity Day.

The aim of the WV Physical Activity Plan is to provide a strategic direction for physical activity promotion within WV. It is expected that the plan’s implementation will increase the physical activity levels of children and adults to meet or exceed the national physical activity recommendations and to therefore improve the health and quality of life of West Virginians. The plan has been developed with the involvement of eight sectors, including: health care, public health, education, business and industry, mass media, parks, recreation, fitness and sport, transportation, and volunteer and non-profit.

The WV Physical Activity Plan is supported by WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, The WV CARDIAC Project, and West Virginia on the Move, Inc.

—WVU—

1/18/12

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CONTACT: Kimberly Cameon, CPASS
304-293-0827, Kimberly.Cameon@mail.wvu.edu