Rapper Mos Def and actress Susan Sarandon have been named Honorary Co-Chairs to the 4th Annual Children’s Sports & Fitness Expo which takes place this September in New York.
The Children’s Sports & Fitness Expo is the brainchild of Vincent Ferguson, president and founder of Body Sculpt of New York, Inc., a not-for-profit health and fitness organization.
Ferguson, who is a certified personal trainer as well as U.S. Navy veteran, created the Expo to help combat childhood obesity, by engaging over 5,000 children in over 25 sports, activities and nutritional classes – free of costs.
“With their support [Mos Def and Susan Sarandon], we hope to bring more attention to the fact that 1 in 3 children born since 2000 will get diabetes according to the New England Journal of Medicine,” Ferguson said. “Children will lose 3 to 5 years off of their lives because of obesity. This is a call to action.”
According to the New York City Department of Health, 43% of New York City school children are either overweight or obese.
Ferguson, who is looking for community support for the event, will lead 40 instructors who will teach the children how to slim down, by exercising and eating right.
The 4th Annual Children’s Sports & Fitness Expo will take place Saturday, September 29, 2007 from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm at the 369th Harlem Armory Center and Minisink Townhouse located at West 142nd Street between 5th and Lenox Avenues.
The event is open to all ages and is free of charge.
For more information visit. www.bodysculpt.org.