WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 16, 2008) - Professional triathlete and fitness author Eric Harr says getting in shape can be the easiest way to help fight global poverty.
Harr is leading a 7 a.m. workout session, to express support for marginalized women and girls worldwide, on the Mall on Wednesday, June 18. He's also sponsoring the "I Am Powerful Workout," through which Harr donates $5 to the poverty-fighting organization CARE for every hour each participant exercises.
All you have to do is sign up at www.care.org/workout and log your hours via e-mail. Work out five hours this week and you will have automatically raised $25, towards the goal of $1 million in support for CARE from Harr.
Members of the public are invited to join CARE supporters from across the United States for Wednessday's workout. All participants will be entered in a drawing for prizes – two winners will get 12 months of personal fitness coaching by Harr. And he's keeping his own personal pledge by training for the Ironman Triathlon World Championships, to be held October 11, 2008.
Harr was inspired to launch the "I Am Powerful Workout" when he traveled to Mozambique with CARE to visit health and nutrition programs, meeting women who are struggling against huge obstacles to pull themselves and their communities out of poverty.
"Here in the United States, we are facing an unprecedented health crisis in the form of obesity and physical inactivity," he says. "At the same time women in the developing world lack access to basic services to improve the health of their families. This workout addresses both of these issues in a very special and emotional way."
The Warm Up
On June 18 and 19, Harr will join other supporters from across the country at CARE's 2008 National Conference in an effort to engage policymakers in the fight against global poverty. Harr kicks off the conference with the Thursday morning workout – encouraging participants to log their hours in support of CARE.
