AMERICUS — The Americus Sumter Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for the launch of the 2015 Chamber Challenge. A wellness-based program for small businesses, the Challenge is an initiative of the Health and Wellness Division and is designed to provide a fitness program for small to medium size businesses. The Challenge is a community-wide, 12-week competition, which had nearly 90 competitors from Sumter County businesses to participate with over 400 pounds lost during the 2014 Challenge. The 2014 winners were April McKenney (individual) and Natalie English, Miranda Goober and Corey Scott Lawson, of The Icy Hots team.

The Challenge will kick off the week of Jan. 22, with weekly weigh-ins from 5-7 p.m. every Thursday. The designated weigh-in locations are AfterHours Care of Americus, 208 E. Lamar St., HomeTown Health Care, 1035 E. Forsyth St., and Sumter County Health Department, 1601 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite 100. Participants may compete individually or in teams of three. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top team and individual at the end of the competition. During each week of the competition, the Chamber will host an exercise opportunity for participants. Participants can attend the Sumter County walking group, which will meet at a designated location around the community, and participate in class exercise opportunities. New components added to the program for 2015 included a partnership with the Sumter County Extension Office and an incentive package for participants who attend the exercise opportunities. The Extension will host a cooking class for participants and assist with registration for Walk GA, which is a web-based program that provides a tracking system for physical activity.

Participants can register and receive a free t-shirt for the Challenge by submitting their application, along with a $30 registration fee, to the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce. The deadline for applications submission is Jan. 16. For additional details about the Chamber Challenge, join us at the Challenge Meet & Greet from 5:30-7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 15 at Georgia Southwestern State University’s Fitness Center. Don’t forget to wear your workout gear if you would like to join in the fun! Zumba and Pilates classes will be open to join at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. or attendees can utilize the indoor walking track. The community will have a chance to register and find out more information about the Challenge and other health opportunities in Sumter County.

Contact Ivy at 229-924-2646 or ivy@americus-sumterchamber.com for more information.