Cheat days are over and “Get Fit Selma” is drawing near. The McRae Gaines Learning Center, Taylor Internal Medicine and the Selma Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. have been collaborating to make the community centered event a smash hit for six years.

This year, the free day-long event will take place Oct. 20 with multiple activities on the agenda.

Event organizer Stephanie Hamm, said “Get Fit Selma” started as a way for the school to raise funds while serving the community.

“It’s an extension of a health fair that Dr. Bruce Taylor put on for seven years,” Hamm said. “[Taylor] asked a group of us that were on the Board of Directors for McRae Learning Center if we would take it on as a community service to the community of Selma and as a fundraiser for McRae.”

The fun filled event will feature double dutch, a 5K and Zorbes (human hamster balls) amongst other activities to get Selmians up and moving. However, even with all the fun things in store, Hamm said the most important part of the event is the health education.

“It’s a way to address, in a fun, but educational way, the primary disease groups that threaten Selmians and residents of Dallas County,” she said. “Those are hypertension, diabetes, type 2 diabetes and they are aggravated by obesity and an inactive lifestyle. That is what we’re trying to address.”

According to Hamm, preventing the diseases is the goal.

“Eventually we want to build an environment of healthy activity, healthy eating and understanding the importance of being active in order to prevent the life-threatening diseases,” Hamm said.

The only cost to guests is the registration fee for the 5K and the one-mile walk and run events. The cost for the 5K for adults is $25 per person and $15 for youth. The one-mile walk and run is $10 for adults and $8 for youth. There will also be discounted rates for teams that participate in the 5-K run and the one-mile walk.  
The schedule of the events includes the following:
8 a.m. Defeat Diabetes 5K Run and Community Fun Run registration opens at 6:30 a.m.
8:15 a.m. community one-mile fun run/walk
9 a.m. Free Health Screening
9:30 a.m. health education and vendor fair and Let’s Move Kid’s Challenge
10 a.m. exercise and fitness expo
11:30 a.m. healthy food happening
1:30 p.m. B.O.S.S. Youth League Basketball Tournament at the School of Discovery

The special guests will include well-known health and nutrition expert Ellen McKnight of The Maxine Firm, former NFL players and members of the Alabama Chapter of the NFL Players Association.