LEESBURG, VA -- For many people, holidays mean overeating and vegging out in front of the TV. That’s just the kind of tradition Dina Skulte, founder and owner of Fit for Kids' Sake! LLC, wanted to avoid when she created International Fitness Day in 2009.
“The purpose of International Fitness Day is to celebrate our health and love for being healthy and fit,” Skulte says on the event’s website, www.internationalfitnessday.com.
A health and fitness expo to celebrate the second annual International Fitness Day will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16, at John W. Tolbert Jr. Elementary School in the Washington, DC, suburb of Leesburg, VA. An online health and fitness expo will be held Oct. 12-15.
Although still in its infancy, International Fitness Day has already gained support from some big names in the fitness industry. This year’s sponsors include Gold’s Gym, which will be hosting open houses in many of its clubs around the world in recognition of the day, as well as Total Gym, EA Sports, Under Armor and New Balance.
In addition to raising community awareness of health and fitness issues, Skulte says the event could be beneficial to fitness industry professionals.
“Gym owners, personal trainers, nutritionists, dieticians, hospitals [and] physicians are invited to host their own fun, family-friendly event to celebrate the day,” she says. “It is a great way to generate new business, new members or even brand awareness.”
The International Fitness Day website offers a number of free tools for those who wish to host an event, including a planning checklist and publicity materials, which can be downloaded and personalized with the host’s details. A personalized host’s kit that includes postcards, T-shirts and balloons is also available for a fee.