The leading cause of death in Baltimore City is cardiovascular disease.  Many of these deaths can be prevented through proper nutrition and regular exercise.  As part of my vision for a healthier Baltimore, I kicked off 2009 with the launch of my Be Fit Baltimore initiative.
 
The purpose of this initiative is to ensure every resident in Baltimore City, regardless of the neighborhood they live in or how much money they make, has access to the tools they need to be healthy. This is not a privilege but a basic right all of our residents should have. 
 
Baltimore already has all of the resources it needs for its residents to be healthy including some of the best hospitals in the world.  The goal of this program is to "connect the dots" by bringing all of these resources together to ensure every citizen in Baltimore has access to them.
 
In the first six months, we have hosted over 35 Be Fit Baltimore events in your communities including kickboxing, swimming, tennis and power walks around the Inner Harbor.  At each of these events, there have been valuable resources including health screenings administered by members of the Johns Hopkins's community, information on how to access affordable health insurance for low-income households, and information on Recreation and Parks activities.   

Tomorrow, September 12th, 10:30 am at Druid Hill Park, I will launch the second phase of this initiative with a bike ride around the reservoir and new members of my team including 73-year-old personal trainer, Ernestine Shepherd and popular jazz musician, Maysa Leak.   Maysa, a Baltimore native, will be embarking on a six month journey to get fit.  Ernestine, at the age of 73, is proving that there is no barrier that cannot be overcome when it comes to our health.

This phase will build off our current success by expanding our partnerships and your ability to access this valuable health information.  It will feature an expanded set of activities to more comprehensively cover our fitness needs such as "Cooking on a Budget" at Giant, "Tackling Childhood Obesity" at Mount Washington Pediatric, and "The ABCs of Weight Training" at Brick Bodies. 

To learn more about Saturday's event and other Fit Baltimore activities text the word "BE" to 79685.  Also, check out Maysa's blog as she shares the trials and the victories of getting in shape at www.befitbaltimore.com.  If you can't joint us in person, check out Be Fit Baltimore workouts on TV 25 at 6am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm, and 10pm everyday.  And remember, don't just exist.  Be. Be confident.  Be positive. Be Fit Baltimore!