State Farm is sponsoring a nationwide challenge aimed at improving the health of African-Americans.
The 50 Million Pound Challenge was created by Dr. Ian Smith, a physician and NY Times best-selling author, as well as a group of African-America leaders.
The 14-city tour kicked off April 7. On Saturday, attendees at an event in Baltimore listened to concerts by popular recording artists, received free health screenings and the opportunity to sign up for the challenge.
A Web site, 50millionpounds.com, is the hub of the program housing information, tips and tools needed to help lose weight. At the site, visitors can watch the combined pounds lost by those taking the challenge rise toward the goal of 50 million. As of Friday, 19,357 pounds lost had been listed.
One week after the launch of the program more than 20,000 people had signed on.
The goal of the effort is to make it easier for people to lose weight and avoid weight-related diseases. The challenge ends in November.
The tour stops in a number of places including Washington, DC, Miami, Memphis, Cleveland, Houston, Detroit, Milwaukee, Atlanta, St. Louis, Chicago, New York, Oakland, CA and New Orleans, LA.
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