CIGNA Health Awareness Tour Riders to Bicycle a Combined 3,000 Miles in Two
Weeks, Stopping in 30 Cities to Deliver a Message of Health and Hope
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- It's possible that this
generation of Americans may, on average, live less healthy and possibly
even shorter lives than their parents if the problem of obesity isn't
effectively addressed (1). What's more, chronic diseases account for seven
out of every 10 deaths and affect the quality of life of more than 90
million Americans (2). In an effort to bring attention to these alarming
trends and help reverse them, CIGNA today announced the 2007 CIGNA Health
Awareness Tour. The tour is designed to engage people across the nation in
taking a more active role in living a healthy lifestyle.
From September 10 through September 21, more than 80 CIGNA employees
from locations across the country will be riding in seven coordinated,
five-day bicycle tours, each averaging 426 miles. The riders will be
stopping in 30 cities along the routes to share their own personal stories
and bring the message of health and hope to thousands of CIGNA employees
and their families, as well as the company's clients, members and the
general public, through participation in community-wide events and
one-on-one conversations.
"Through the personal example and outreach of CIGNA's employees, we
hope to encourage more Americans to take an active role in reaching their
own best health," said David Cordani, president of CIGNA HealthCare, who
will be riding in several of the tours. "CIGNA's member-focused health
advocacy programs, employer workplace wellness initiatives and consultative
approach with clients have proven that reaching out, one person at a time,
can make a real difference. Extending our message into the broader
community with the CIGNA Health Awareness Tour is simply a continuation of
our commitment to wellness," added Cordani.
Chris McSwain, Director, Compensation & Benefits of SCANA Corporation,
participated in the 2005 Health Awareness Tour. "My participation in the
Health Awareness Tour came at a pivotal time in the history of our
organization's attack on the health care and productivity issues that most
American companies face. The commitment I saw on the ride encouraged me to
continue to pursue our health and wellness approach to health care," said
McSwain.
Under McSwain's guidance, SCANA has created an award-winning health
improvement program for the more than 5,000 associates and family members
of SCANA Corporation. Through programs such as the LiveWell Resource Center
which integrates on-site pharmacy, wellness and behavioral health with the
on-site Mobile Medical Unit, SCANA has been able to improve productivity
and health outcomes, reduce absences, and improve the health of the SCANA
family while being able to hold employee medical premiums flat for three
consecutive years.
Walt DeArmitt, owner of Walt's Cafe in Huntingdon, Penn., is another
Health Awareness Tour success story. In 2005, the riders stopped at his
restaurant and explained their mission and some ideas DeArmitt could
implement to improve his own health. Shortly after that meeting, DeArmitt
was hospitalized as a result of his health condition. After his release, he
committed to making the dietary and lifestyle changes the riders had talked
with him about. Two years later, he has lost almost 200 pounds, overcome
diabetes and changed his restaurant menu to include healthier options,
thereby creating his own "community of health" with his patrons. The 2005
Health Awareness Tour T-shirt hangs on his wall as a reminder of what a
difference this visit made in one person's life.
Gary Earl, senior vice president at CIGNA HealthCare and founder of the
Health Awareness Tour said, "Although many people do have a basic
understanding of the value of living a healthy lifestyle, there are often
obstacles preventing them from doing so. In some cases, people
enthusiastically attempt to go from a sedentary lifestyle to starting an
overly strenuous exercise regimen, only to become exhausted, discouraged
and disengaged." Therefore, the riders on the tour will be encouraging
people to start simple, but to start, and to use small victories to
overcome obstacles. Some ideas include:
-- Park a bit further away in the parking lot or walk to work.
-- Avoid the elevator or escalator and take the stairs instead.
-- Drink water before and with every meal.
-- Never diet, instead eat consciously from foods that are rich in color,
such as fruits and vegetables, to get necessary nutrients.
-- Include daily exercise such as walking.
-- Volunteer in your community and take time to love and appreciate those
around you.
Earl encourages people to get a fitness partner, or have fun getting
fit with family, friends or co-workers. Mutual encouragement can help keep
a fitness plan on track. "All it takes is one small step and you too can be
on the path to feeling better about yourself, which in itself is very
contagious and rewarding to those around you. It is a wonderfully
victorious 'cycle'," concludes Earl.
This is the third, and most expansive, Health Awareness Tour. The
first, in 2005, sponsored by CIGNA, consisted of a small band of cyclists,
led by Earl, riding across the country delivering a message of health and
fitness. On the 2006 CIGNA Health Awareness Tour, Earl was joined by
Cordani and the team of cyclists rode from Washington DC to the company's
health care headquarters Bloomfield, CT. This year the seven tours will
include:
-- Anaheim to Sacramento (CA), Sept. 10-14, with stops in San Jose,
Oakland, Glendale and Visalia
-- Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, Sept. 10-14, with stops in North Fayette
(PA), Claymont (DE), and Voorhees (NJ)
-- Nashville (TN) to Atlanta (GA), Sept. 11-14, with stops in Franklin
(TN) and Chattanooga
-- Las Vegas (NV) to Phoenix (AZ), Sept 12-17
-- Dallas to Houston, Sept. 18-21, with stops in Denison, Carrolton, and
Irving (TX)
-- Eden Prairie (MN) to Bourbonnais (IL), Sept. 17-21, with stops in Sioux
Falls (SD) and Chicago
-- Bloomfield (CT) to Scranton (PA), Sept. 17-21, with stops in Jersey
City (NJ), Easton and Bethlehem (PA)
In addition to the scheduled stops, the riders will visit with
individuals they meet along the way to engage people in ways to improve
their health and encourage them to sign a commitment card to take better
care of themselves. For more information about the Health Awareness Tour
visit http://www.cigna.com/healthawarenesstour .
(1) New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 352, No. 11, March 17,2005,
pages 1138-1145
(2) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for
Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, "Chronic Disease
Overview," as accessed at cdc.gov/nccdphp/overview.htm
About CIGNA
CIGNA Corporation (NYSE: CI) and its subsidiaries, with total assets of
$44 billion and an employee base of approximately 26,500, constitute one of
the largest publicly-owned employee benefits organizations in the United
States and throughout the world. Its subsidiaries are major providers of
employee benefits offered through the workplace, with products and services
including health care, group life, accident and disability insurance,
dental, vision, behavioral health, and pharmacy.
SOURCE CIGNA Healthcare
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Related links:
http://www.cigna.com/healthawarenesstour
http://www.cigna.com
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/overview.htm
CONTACT:
Lindsay Shearer, +1-603-268-7721,
Lindsay.shearer@cigna.com, or Arlys Stadum, +1-763-559-5587,
Arlys.stadum@cigna.com, both of CIGNA Healthcare
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