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Murray • Salt Lake City Councilman Carlton Christensen wants to avoid the heart problems that have plagued his family. South Salt Lake Mayor Cherie Wood is hoping to lower her blood pressure.
And Taylorsville Mayor Russ Wall wants to continue to lose weight. He's already down 40 pounds since the first of the year and wants to drop another 15.
"I feel so much better," Wall said. "That's really my goal."
The three are among a dozen city officials in Salt Lake County who will be competing during the next 100 days in the My Heart Challenge, sponsored by the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute.
With help from Intermountain experts, the 12 — eight mayors, two councilmen, one city manager and one city attorney — will learn how to improve their heart health and fitness level through changes in their eating and exercise habits.
At the end, they will be tested again. A winner will be determined by a point system that tallies exercise sessions and healthy meals and measures changes in health markers, such as blood pressure and body mass index. Participation in the Intermountain 5K run in June also will earn points.
Two prizes, of $2,000 each, will be awarded for the competitor with the most points and the one who shows the most improved health. The money will go to the winner's city.
The goal is to raise awareness and motivate people to make positive changes. Donald Lappe, chief of cardiology at the institute, said 7,000 to 10,000 Utahns die each year from cardiovascular disease.
"You are not only community leaders, you're role models," Lappe told the public officials. "This will be an inspiring program."
Trash talk has started and for some, Murray Mayor Dan Snarr is the man to beat.
"Mayor Snarr, you are one of the most fit mayors in the valley, and I want you to know I'm on your tail. I want to beat you," Riverton Mayor Bill Applegarth said in a video challenge.
In addition to good health, Cottonwood Heights Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore Jr. sees another benefit to the contest.
"I think it will prove once and for all," he said, "that we as politicians really do have a heart — and hopefully it's a healthy one. I'm excited to be an example for my community." —
Who's competing?
A dozen city officials are participating in the My Heart Challenge, sponsored by the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute. The contest will run until July 7. To follow the competition and hear what the competitors have to say, visit myheartchallenge.com.
The competitors are Bill Applegarth, Riverton mayor; Carlton Christensen, Salt Lake City councilman; Peter Corroon, Salt Lake County mayor; Kelvyn Cullimore Jr., Cottonwood Heights mayor; Craig Hall, Midvale city attorney; Scott Osborne, South Jordan mayor; Darrell Smith, Draper mayor; Dan Snarr, Murray mayor; Ben Southworth, West Jordan city councilman; Russ Wall, Taylorsville mayor; Brett Wood, Herriman city manager; and Cherie Wood, South Salt Lake mayor.