FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 15, 2024
Kansas City, MO – Kansas City is one of the 10 unhealthiest cities in America, ranking 91st out of the 100 largest U.S. cities in the 2023 Fitness Index by the American College of Sports Medicine. Additionally, less than half of all children living in the Kansas City region engage in the recommended amount of physical activity each day, with the rate declining more than 25 percent between 2012 and 2019.
In response, 18 local organizations have joined forces with Children’s Mercy Hospital’s Kansas City Healthy Lifestyles Collaborative to launch Move Together KC, an initiative to get Kansas City moving and reverse the alarming state of health and fitness in the metro area. BikeWalkKC, a community organization dedicated to redefining our streets as places for people to build a culture of active living, proudly announces its active participation in this community-wide effort.
Move Together KC is a campaign to promote a culture of physical movement for every body in the Kansas City region. The campaign is powered by the Kansas City Physical Activity Plan, which is drawn from local research studies, community recommendations on physical activity, and national physical activity reports, including the National Physical Activity Plan and the United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth.
As a member of Move Together KC, BikeWalkKC is actively contributing to the campaign's success by leading communication initiatives and developing strategies to improve Kansas City’s built environment to make walking and biking safer and more appealing.
BikeWalkKC recognizes the significance of Move Together KC in promoting healthier lifestyles for all Kansas Citians and fostering collaboration among community organizations throughout our region.
“BikeWalkKC is honored to work with our neighbors and friends to achieve our collective vision of active living,” says Amy Scrivner, development & communications director. “We are eager to move together towards a safer, happier, and healthier future in Kansas City.” .
Join us in making a difference! We invite other local organizations, businesses, and residents to get moving together in support of Move Together KC. Whether you are a business owner, organization leader, or individual, your participation is needed to help improve the health and well-being of our community. Let’s Move Together KC!
About Move Together KC
#MoveTogetherKC is a campaign to inspire and promote a culture of physical movement for every body in the Kansas City region. Powered by The Kansas City Physical Activity Plan and supported by a diverse coalition of community organizations, Move Together KC seeks to create a culture of physical movement that is inclusive and accessible to all. Learn more at kcphysicalactivityplan.org or on social media @MoveTogetherKC.
Children’s Mercy Hospital’s Kansas City Healthy Lifestyles Collaborative is supported in their coordination of the KCPA Plan by the William T. Kemper Charitable Trust, UMB Bank, N.A., previously supported by Enid and Crosby Kemper Foundation, UMB Bank, N.A., and the Health Resources and Services Administration.
For media inquiries, please contact:
William Brandmeyer
Founding Executive Director
Sharewaves, Powered by Sports Radio 810WHB
(913) 219-9435
Amy Scrivner
Development & Communications Director
BikeWalkKC
(513) 919-9613
About BikeWalkKC
Founded in 2010, BikeWalkKC is a non-profit advocacy and education organization whose mission is to redefine our streets as places for people to build a culture of active living. We envision a metro area where thriving does not require driving, and walking, bicycling, or taking transit is safe, convenient, and joyful. BikeWalkKC operates one of the largest Safe Routes to School programs in the country. Since 2012, the organization has taught 50,000 Kansas City metro students to walk and bike safely to school. For more information, please visit www.bikewalkkc.org.