Nearly 200 participants signed up for the annual Wellness Challenge Wednesday during the 2019 Wellness Challenge Kick-Off and Expo of Providers.

Deborah Jackson, director of programming at Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation, said the expo was a first for the Clark County Activity Coalition and WCCPR.

“Everyone agrees the expo was a huge success,” Jackson said.

WCCPR Director Jeff Lewis said the expo was an excellent way for interested participants to register early for the challenge while learning about the businesses, fitness centers and eateries that are participating in this year’s challenge.

“We had an awesome turnout,” Lewis said. “I’m very pleased.”

The Clark County Wellness Challenge is a 10-week countywide event meant to encourage physical wellness and health education in Clark County. Last year, there were more than 500 participants. The program has been around for nearly 10 years.

This year’s challenge runs through May 15. The cost to participate is $15, and the final date to register is March 6.

The challenge fee gives full access to everything in the challenge booklet, which is available online and will be given to participants when registering. Additionally, challenge participants can sign up for $50 three-month membership for full access to the facility at College Park.

Weigh‐ins are on Wednesdays during the challenge. Participants must weigh in at the same location every time.

Registration and weigh-in time and locations include 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Clark Clinic B Wellness Center, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Clark County Health Department, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Winchester Family Practice and 6-8 a.m. at Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation.

Participants must be at least 12 years or older to register. To be eligible for prizes, participants must complete a registration form and weigh in on the day of registration, be 18 years of age or older, weigh in at least five times and attend five different classes. Two of the five weigh-ins must include registration and the final weigh-in.

The activity coalition will award additional prizes at the challenge finale on May 18. Participants must be eligible and present to win.

The coalition will award prizes to the top three male and female participants who have lost the most significant percentage of body weight over 10 weeks.

The coalition will announce prizewinners at noon during the Clark Regional Medical Center Community Health Fair and Wellness Challenge Finale which runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 18. The Joe F. Reed Memorial Heart Walk begins before the finale at 9:30 a.m.

The coalition will post updates about classes and other information about the challenge on the Clark County Activity Coalition’s Facebook page.