Huntersville Mayor John Aneralla is a cyclist

Jan. 12. By Dave Yochum. The Centers for Disease Control says the majority of COVID-19-related deaths in the U.S. have occurred in individuals who had underlying conditions, but for 6 percent of COVID-19 deaths, the coronavirus was the only cause mentioned.

Back story

Huntersville Mayor John Aneralla said the statistic got him to thinking.

“What can we do to get people in a competition to get in shape so we can fight this disease,” the mayor said.

He approached the other North Mecklenburg mayors—Rusty Knox in Davidson and Woody Washam in Cornelius—at a breakfast to talk about what they could do to emphasize exercise in our communities.

“The under-reported crisis that’s occurred during the pandemic is that so many of our citizens are not in shape which lead to diabetes and heart disease or both,” Aneralla, a fit cyclist and swimmer, said.

Local impact

Since the pandemic appeared in North Carolina in March, 32 people have died in Huntersville due to COVID-19; nine in Davidson; and 19 in Cornelius.

While many are elderly, co-morbidities wreak havoc with COVID-19 patients.

Details

The towns and the mayors will compete with each other in the Mayors’ Fitness Challenge. Competitors add up the time spent in endeavors as simple as yard work, or as strenuous as touch football or running.

Each town will comprise a team and compete to win the title of Fittest Community.

The challenge will run12 weeks, starting Jan. 31.

Each week towns are working to have the total most active minutes. At the end of the 12 weeks, on April 18, the town with the highest average total will be awarded the Fittest Community Trophy.

Registration opens Wednesday, Jan. 13.

Town kick-off events will be held Sunday, Jan. 31. More information will be coming, and we’ll be glad to share. But for now, click here for the Huntersville web site.

Details regarding Kick Off will be shared following registration.