Healthy Planet 2010 to offer wellness activities
Purdue faculty and staff will have the opportunity to participate in a number of activities during Healthy Planet 2010, being held Feb. 1-5.
Healthy Planet 2010 is a new initiative designed to focus on health awareness from the local level to a global reach. Healthy Planet 2010 will integrate programs in learning, teaching, research, engagement, and outreach to raise awareness of the benefits of prevention and a balanced life.
Tapping into existing resources and research at Purdue, the initiative will concentrate on health education, physical activity, nutrition, financial management, and mental health. Events open to faculty and staff, students, alumni, retirees and the general public will be held to explore the various topics.
Walk to the Moon
Healthy Planet 2010 will kick off at the Purdue men's basketball game on Jan. 31 with "Walk to the Moon." Members of the Purdue and local communities will be challenged to track their steps or miles as they work together to accumulate the approximately 477,714,000 steps or 238,857 miles needed to travel from the Earth to the moon.
Those interested in participating will be able to register for the event at www.purdue.edu/walktothemoon. Participants will log their steps or miles throughout the week at the same site.
People can track their steps by using their own pedometers, downloading a pedometer application for their iPhone, or picking up one of the pedometers being distributed on campus starting Jan. 28. Sponsored by CIGNA, the free pedometers will be available at the following locations:
* WorkLife Programs office in the Purdue West Shopping Plaza (PWF).
* Recreational Sports Center.
* Ismail Center, Lambert Fieldhouse.
* Visitor Information Center.
* Visitor Center Information desk in the Purdue Memorial Union (near the Great Hall).
* Follett's Purdue Bookstore in the Purdue West Shopping Plaza.
* Purdue Pride Team Store at the northeast side of Ross-Ade Stadium.
Other forms of physical activity also will count toward the goal. A conversion chart will be available at the Walk to the Moon site.
Speakers
* Dr. Ian Smith will present "Culturally Competent Healthcare" at 7 p.m. Feb. 4 in Fowler Hall. Smith will discuss the need for health care providers and patients to build strong partnerships with media, community organizations and policymakers to improve the quality of health care and eliminate ethnic health care disparities. He also will discuss the basic elements of living a healthier, happier lifestyle through exercise and nutrition.
Smith is the creator of the 50 Million Pound Challenge, an online initiative geared to inspiring people to take control of the way they eat and exercise in order to lead a healthier lifestyle. He also serves as the medical/diet expert on VH1's "Celebrity Fit Club" and as a medical contributor on ABC's "The View."
* Kelvin Boston, host of PBS' "Moneywise" television series, will speak at noon Feb. 1 in Room 218, Stewart Center. Boston will highlight the opportunities found as people recover from the recession, including how to buy a new home, using benefits to your advantage, and investing retirement funds.
Other events
Other activities planned for the Healthy Planet 2010 include:
* The Recreational Sports Center will host an open house throughout the week. Anyone with a Purdue ID will have access to the center at no charge and can participate in any of the morning or noon group exercise classes. RSC also will host the Healthy Planet Party and Swing Dance from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday.
* The Ismail Center will offer tours from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
* Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering will present the Healthy Purdue Research Symposium from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 3 in the Faculty Lounges, Purdue Memorial Union. The symposium will examine health assessment data collected as part of the Healthy Purdue program. Attendees will hear about several research projects done with this data and how they can access this resource.
A full list of events is available at www.purdue.edu/healthy_planet.