Fitness contest involves
safety workers
Eric Okamura, Hawaii director for the Pinnacle 911 Fitness Challenge, hopes to recruit 20 teams of emergency responders to compete against California teams.
More than 5,000 police officers, firefighters, security personnel, emergency workers, physicians, nurses and others are expected to participate in the National Public Safety Fitness Charity Event Jan. 9 through April 1. The Pinnacle 911 Fitness Challenge -- a weight-loss contest for public safety workers -- will be hosted in 28 cities with weigh-in locations. Last year, 12 cities had weigh-in sites.
"Last year, my first year, I had five teams participate," said Okamura, with Fit for Life. California had 150 teams, but Okamura said he received notice only a week before the weigh-in.
Four regions participate: California, Texas, Florida and New York. Hawaii teams compete against California teams.
Registration fees benefit the Shriners Hospitals for Children, which provide free surgeries and therapy for children with disabilities.
Okamura said participants will weigh in at Fit for Life, 801 Dillingham Blvd., at 10 a.m. on Jan. 11.
They will receive event shirts, fitness journals and goody bags provided by sponsors.
Their body fat will be measured, and team photos will be taken. A one-hour seminar will be held after the weigh-in to teach participants how to safely lose fat and gain muscle.
"The goal is to lose as much fat weight and gain as much muscle weight in 12 weeks," Okamura said.
Trainers will conduct skin-fold measurements and document the data.
Data will be averaged for a combined team score at weigh-out at 10 a.m. April 4.
The team with the greatest improvement will win $5,000 and a chance to go to the Bahamas as a team, Okamura said. Each team will have three to five members.
Qualified trainers are sought to assist Hawaii Fitness Challenge participants. All those working on the event are volunteers, Okamura said.
Teams of three to five members must register by Dec. 29. Applications are available at www.911fitness.com. Go to Fitness Challenge and click on Register Online.
People without Internet access can call 911 Fitness at 305-297-5328 to receive an application by fax.
For more information, call Okamura at 535-1550, Jim Sayih at 305-297-5328 or Alicia Lyons, Shriners Children's Hospitals, 800-237-5055.