HELENA — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana (BCBSMT) and National Fitness Campaign are increasing access to fitness and reducing barriers to physical and mental health by collaborating to bring free, outdoor Fitness Courts® to communities across Montana.
BCBSMT is contributing $250,000 in grants to help fund 10 new Fitness Courts across the state. The sites will begin construction as early as fall 2024 with the goal of being available for use in spring 2025.
“Starting physical activity and staying active is at the heart of our physical and mental well-being, and it’s a fundamental driver in our quest to help positively influence Montana’s population health,” said John Doran, BCBSMT divisional vice president of external affairs. “That’s why we are so grateful for the opportunity to join the National Fitness Campaign to bring free and accessible outdoor physical fitness sites to communities throughout our great state. Together, we can continue our work to make Montana a healthier place to live, work and play.”
The Fitness Court is the world’s best outdoor gym that lets people use their own body weight to get a complete workout using seven exercise stations. Created with people aged 14 and over and with all abilities in mind, the workouts are adaptable for all fitness levels, allowing participants to move at their own pace. Users may also download the free Fitness Court App which acts as a coach-in-your-pocket and enhances the outdoor gym into a digitally supported wellness experience.
“The National Fitness Campaign is proud to welcome BCBSMT as they join the growing network of leading health care partners across the country prioritizing equitable fitness across their state,” said Mitch Menaged, founder of the National Fitness Campaign. “This program will deliver tremendous resources to contribute to the important mission of improving health outcomes as the network of Fitness Courts grows across Montana. We look forward to working with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana to make this campaign a great success.”
Municipalities, schools and other organizations in Montana can apply for grant funding through National Fitness Campaign to assist in joining the campaign. National Fitness Campaign works with grant recipients to assist in planning, funding and launching their Fitness Court and community wellness programming.
Grant applications are being accepted. To learn more about funding, visit nationalfitnesscampaign.com/montana.
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About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana
BCBSMT has been part of Montana for more than 80 years. We are a born-and-bred Montana company and are dedicated to serving the state with access to one of the world’s leading health care companies. We have offices in Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Kalispell, and Missoula, and we’re headquartered in Helena. With nearly 600 Montana-based employees, we serve more than 300,000 Montanans, including our friends, neighbors, and our very own families. Our purpose is to make health care more affordable and accessible by driving innovation, building healthier communities, and delivering excellent service. Our commitment to the communities we serve is part of our DNA as a company. Our community outreach efforts are a cornerstone of our business — a key aspect of our purpose to make health care more affordable and accessible for Montanans.
About National Fitness Campaign
Founded in San Francisco in 1979, National Fitness Campaign is a wellness consulting firm that provides programs and services to cities, schools and sponsors with the mission to build Healthy Communities nationwide. The campaign delivers an integrated wellness initiative, centered around the Fitness Court®: the world's best outdoor gym. National Fitness Campaign is planning its 500th Healthy Community, uniting the country's largest public-private partnership in support of wellness with the goal of building a Fitness Court® within a 10-minute bike ride of every American. Learn more at www.nationalfitnesscampaign.com or on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.