World Champion Wheelchair Athlete to Push Wheelchair from Canada to Mexico

On June 14, 2004, Kevin Saunders, a former world champion wheelchair athlete is launching a 50-state, 125-city Health and Fitness Tour of America to encourage community-based health and fitness initiatives. The initial stage of this effort will take Saunders from Detroit, Michigan to Laredo, Texas. Saunders will share resources with city officials interested in establishing or enhancing a community-based health and fitness initiative.

Nashville, TN (PRWEB) May 26, 2004 -- -- The Kevin Saunders Health and Fitness Foundation announced today that beginning June 14, 2004, Kevin Saunders, a former world champion and three-time Olympic wheelchair athlete will push his wheelchair from Canada-just across the border from Detroit, Michigan-to Mexico as a part of his 50-state Health and Fitness Tour of America.

Saunders is attempting to draw attention to the need for communities throughout our nation to focus on lifelong health and fitness. In addition to pushing his chair across the country, Saunders will meet with state and local leaders to facilitate a discussion designed to launch a community-based grass-roots approach to achieving a healthier Nation-one community at a time. Saunders will provide the leadership in each community with resources designed to help establish or improve health and fitness initiatives.

Im pushing my chair across the country to demonstrate that if I can the overcome obstacles that stand in my way, anyone can," said Saunders. I firmly believe that the battle against obesity and unhealthy lifestyles will be won in the local communities. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is know where to get started. Thats why weve assembled resources for communities to begin launching effective health and fitness initiatives immediately."

Saunders was injured in a 1981 grain-elevator explosion in Corpus Christi, Texas which severed his spinal column and paralyzed him from the chest down. Saunders spirit pushed him to overcome these devastating injuries and then to become a world champion wheelchair athlete. Saunders went on to represent the Unites States three times in the Olympic Games.

Saunders was the first person with a disability to be appointed to the Presidents Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. He was appointed to the Council by President George H. Bush and later reappointed by President Bill Clinton.

Saunders Tour of America was launched on May 5, 2004 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Beginning June 14, 2004, Saunders will begin his Canada to Mexico journey by pushing from Canada into Detroit, Michigan. He will then push his chair the nearly 2,000 miles to Laredo, Texas where he will cross the U.S.-Mexico border. Saunders will be meeting with community officials in many cities along the route.

Saunders Canada-to-Mexico journey is part of a nationwide tour that will ultimately take him through all 50 states.

The tour, which is operated by the nonprofit, Kevin Saunders Health and Fitness Foundation, is being supported by corporate donations. All profits from the sponsorships will be donated to the American Heart Association, the YMCA and the American Diabetes Association. Saunders and the Tour have already received endorsements and invitations from state Governors such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rick Perry of Texas and Linda Lingle of Hawaii to name a few.

For a media press kit and more information about the Tour, please visit http://www.healthandfitnesstour.com.
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