For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE 
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
 
36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185
Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 724.721.2310

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

Westland Kicks Off 5th Annual "Buddy Up" Program
 

Westland, MI - The City of Westland is kicking off  the 5th year of the popular, life changing, 8-week  "Buddy Up" Program which has been part of Mayor William R. Wild's "Passport to a Healthy City" initiative which started in 2012.
 
"The heart and soul of the program is Buddy Shuh who was a contestant on the reality TV show, 'The Biggest Loser'," commented Mayor Wild.   "Westland is very fortunate to benefit from his experience and knowledge on this very important subject."
 
Unfortunately today 35% of Americans or 78 million people in the U.S. are considered obese.     Research has shown that "buddying up" can be the difference between failure and success with any weight loss plan.
 
The "Buddy Up" Kick Off will be held on March 3 at 7:00 p.m.  in the banquet room at City Hall where you will be assigned team captains and hear an inspirational message from Buddy Shuh.
 
After the kick-off participants will meet every Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. for 8 weeks and will be guided and encouraged through the program by their team captain.
 
This year the program will include the popular 6-week triathlon where you have 6 weeks to complete a triathlon's worth of biking, running and swimming.   Brand new this year is an optional weight loss challenge where the top three participants with the most weight loss will win a prize.
 
Registration is limited to the first 250 paid registrants.  This program is open to all interested individuals looking to engage in a healthier lifestyle.

Online registration has opened and is available at www.cityofwestland.com

The fee is $30 which includes an event t-shirt and a binder with helpful information.  New this year, participants can compete for a grand prize by paying an extra $10.  The top three participants who lost the most weight throughout the program could win big!




For more information, contact Aubrey Berman, Administrative Secretary, at (734) 467-3200.
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Westland, Michigan is the state's 10th largest municipality, with a population of over 84,000 people who exhibit a great deal of pride in their All-American City.  Westland has a thriving business community along with beautiful residential areas.  The citizens enjoy a wide array of amenities and a quality of life that is second to none.


 

In 2014, Westland was rated as one of 24/7 Wall Street's America's Best 50 Cities to Live, offering residents and visitors an ideal blend of single-family affordable homes, apartments and condominiums, great schools, and access to numerous outdoor activities.  Public safety is delivered by full-service, professional law enforcement and firefighting personnel. Westland Police Department, whose motto is protect and serve, provides emergency dispatch services to four cities and over 100,000 residents; the Westland Firefighters are licensed paramedics who responded to over 8,000 calls for service last year, about 85% being medical based.  They never forget their mission of preserving life and property.


 

Westland is well-known as the premier destination for shopping and dining in Wayne County with hundreds of shops and restaurants anchored by the Westland Shopping Center, on of the country's original four regional malls.


 

Infinite opportunities are available in Westland for the recreation aficionado including, more than 40 parks and 1,500 acres of trails, a 9-hole golf course, hockey arena, athletic fields, playscapes, a Farmers and Artisans Market and more.  One of Michigan's most environmentally friendly cities, Westland has a progressive curbside recycling program with one of the highest participation rates in the nation and the City is raising the bar for cultural experiences with the placement of public art throughout the City.


 

The City is served by two public school districts; Wayne-Westland Community Schools serving 12,000 youth was recently named one of the Best School in Michigan by WXYZ-TV and is the proud recipient of 14 Golden Apple and two Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.  Livonia Public Schools, educating nearly 15,000 students, is proud of their MEAP/MME scores that exceed state averages and the District has also earned Golden Apple and Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.


 


 

The City provides competitive incentives for those who are interested in investing in Westland, making it one of the hottest investment markets in the region.  Our Fast-Track to Business Team, which consists of key decision makers who work diligently on a development plan will "cut the red tape" and expedite the approval process for new business development.


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