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Timmins is joining 45 other communities across the province in the Healthy Kids Community Challenge.

The government program is designed to help kids lead an healthier lifestyle and Misiway Milopemahtesewin Community Health Centre, is being  chosen as the lead organization for the challenge within the community.

Executive Director of the centre, Rachel Cull says they’ll be partnering with the Timmins Family YMCA during their Healthy Kids Day to launch the initiative, May 1st.

“It’s funded by the Ministry of Health and intended for communities to partner with organizations and build on existing initiative for kids to them outside to reduce childhood obesity.”

According to the 2016 YMCA Healthy Kids Day Survey, Ontario parents acknowledge that there are barriers keeping them from leading a healthy active lifestyle, including: a lack of time (45%), work/life balance (39%) and energy or motivation (28%). Parents across Canada identified the same barriers to leading a healthy, active lifestyle.

With more than 33% of Canadian children aged five to 17 being overweight, leading a healthy, active lifestyle should be a family priority driven by parents.

Misiway is inviting clubs to join them in the initiative which last until March 2018.  Cull says the ministry is announcing several other themes and activities throughout it’s tenure.

Meanwhile, the YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day is a free event at Ross Beattie Public School this year.  The National YMCA changed the date and due to the potential of cold weather – the event will be in the school gym instead of Hollinger Park.