The 2nd Annual “We’re Off to a Good Start,” a yearly physical activity and nutrition kickoff program will be held Saturday, Jan. 16, at the UW Health at the American Center. The high-energy event emphasizes the importance of black men getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day to improve their general health.
The health disparities among African-American men are striking: they are 30 percent more likely to die from heart disease and 60 percent more likely to die from stroke than are non-Hispanic white men. Statistics tells us that black men live 7.1 years less than other racial groups and they have higher death rates than women for all leading causes of death.
“The goal of ‘We’re Off to a Good Start’ is to empower black men to keep their New Year’s resolutions by developing obtainable goals that they can stick with all year round even if a hiccup occurs occasionally,” says event organizer Aaron Perry, the first African American diabetic man to ever finish an Ironman Triathlon. “Nobody gets left behind. We accept all sizes and shapes and abilities. Everybody is welcome to come out.”
Keynote speakers will include Brandon Williams, a former NFL wide receiver who is an author and motivational speaker. The other keynote for the event will be Darryl Davidson, City of Milwaukee men’s health manager. A dynamic group of presenters will be at the event to educate men on lowering weight and cholesterol, reducing depression, and preventing diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some forms of cancer.
The goal of the event is to empower black men ages 10-81 to get healthy and to keep their New Year’s resolutions by developing attainable goals they can stick with all year long. This high-energy event emphasizes the importance of black men getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day to improve their general health.
There will be breakout sessions on diabetes education, stroke education, nutrition education and blood pressure education. BMO Harris will talk about financial health and there will be a Zumba class. “It’s a day of getting us all together and trying to get us all to be healthier,” Perry says. “It will be a fun day but a serious day.”
The event will be hosted by Rebalanced-life Wellness Association, which Perry founded in 2007 and has been working with businesses, corporations, community-based organizations, health educators and the faith community to create an awareness of the major health concerns affecting African-Americans and to actively promote a healthier lifestyle.
For more information about the event, click here.
