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Town of DISH Seeks to Become ``Fittest City in Texas'' With Help From DISH Network TV Service, Local Businesses and National Sponsors

Posted on: Wednesday, 1 March 2006, 12:00 CST

The tight-knit bedroom community that accepted DISH Network's challenge to re-brand itself as part of the company's DISH City Makeover is now taking the makeover idea to a new level. The Town of DISH, Texas, with the support of DISH Network, Fieldhouse Fitness Center in Justin, and sponsorships by several national TV networks and fitness companies, is instituting the DISH Fitness Makeover campaign to become the "Fittest City in Texas."

"Now that our town has DISH Network TV service, we have access to hundreds of hours of fitness and health programming each month with channels like Discovery Health, Fine Living and Healthy Living Network," said DISH Mayor Bill Merritt. "These serve as great tools in helping our residents get in shape and win the Texas governor's fitness challenge. Renaming our city was just the first step in helping makeover the town into a healthy, thriving community."

The Town of DISH's fitness campaign has also garnered the support of a dozen companies and television networks, which have donated exercise equipment, gym memberships, health counseling and prizes. Participating organizations include:

-- Fieldhouse Fitness Center in Justin, Texas

-- Dallas/Fort Worth Adventure Boot Camp for Women

-- Marika's Fitness Studio for Women in Argyle, Texas

-- Body Works Fitness Equipment, headquartered in Austin

-- Sharpe's Workout, providing fitness instruction for the Dallas/Fort Worth area

-- Crunchless Abs

-- DISH Network, based in Englewood, Colo.

-- Television Networks: Oxygen Network, ESPN, Discovery Networks and DIY Network

-- PodFitness.com, a Web site that allows users to download customized workouts onto their MP3 player or iPod

-- Power Music, a national supplier of music for fitness professionals

-- PostNet, located in Roanoke, Texas

-- Dr. Naila Malik of Argyle, Texas, who specializes in preventative medicine and aesthetic skin care

The fitness campaign, which begins March 6, is part of the statewide Texas Round-Up initiative commissioned by Gov. Rick Perry to encourage Texas cities to live healthier lifestyles. The program requires participants to log at least 150 minutes of exercise each week for six weeks, and it culminates in a series of events and activities in Austin on April 29, 2006, where the Governor will honor the city with the highest percentage of participation relative to its population.

"DISH serves as a great model to other cities on how to motivate and support your citizens as they make a commitment to physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle," said Marty McCartt, director of Texas Round-Up, Inc. "We hope that more cities will commit to making long-term investments in the well-being of their residents."

Merritt has teamed up with Fieldhouse Fitness Center owner Tim Scrivner, who has offered to give free three-month memberships to those who successfully complete the program, and Dr. Naila Malik, owner of the Argyle Medical Center, who has offered to administer fitness tests for more than 100 DISH residents. Merritt and Scrivner have also secured donated fitness equipment from Bodyworks Fitness Equipment to put in the DISH Town Hall for residents' use during the six-week campaign. In addition, Merritt has made a personal donation of $175 to be used as a cash prize to the resident who is the "fittest" by the end of the campaign.

As a show of support, employees from DISH Network's sales location in Dallas have committed to the fitness challenge and are competing in the Texas Round-Up Corporate Challenge.

Source: Business Wire

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