Weight comes off, dollars pile up at Health & Fitness Expo

LIMA — An eight-week weight loss challenge designed to promote a healthier, happier community not only resulted in losing a ton of weight, but it also raised thousands of dollars for local charities.

The Big Give Weight Loss Challenge awards presentation was one of the highlights of the eighth annual Health & Fitness Expo, sponsored by The Lima News, at Veterans Memorial Civic Center on Saturday.

The challenge, sponsored by Thin and Healthy’s Total Solution and Fitness Solutions 24/7, raised more than $20,000, according to Donna Krech, founder of Total Solution and Fitness Solutions 24/7.

“We had 57 teams, representing over 30 charities, and we lost right at a ton of weight. We raised $20,000 for all these local charities,” Krech said. “It’s been amazing. It’s been the most exciting thing I’ve ever had the honor to be a part of.”

It was the first year for the challenge, but it was a program that fit in well with the overall theme of the expo, according to Bill Clinger, marketing director for The Lima News. This year’s expo also featured a 5K fun run/walk and health screenings sponsored by several organizations.

“The whole idea of the Health and Fitness Expo, when it started eight years ago, was just to bring awareness to fitness and health and wellness and all that stuff,” Clinger said. “The Big Give Challenge this year is a great enhancement to that. It’s awareness of things you need to do to make ourselves healthier and fit. It was a nice little complement.”