Weight-loss team issues challenge to donate to Yuma food bank

A group of Yumans changing the way they eat want to make sure others simply have the chance to eat.

A team participating in Yuma's current weight-loss challenge recently issued a secondary challenge, asking teams to donate a food item or $1 for every pound they lose. The food will be donated to the Yuma Community Food Bank.

Members of that team, called The Transformers, work for the Yuma County Attorney's Office. The eight-member team and 900-plus other Yumans are taking part in the Fattest to Fittest: Yuma vs. Yakima Weight Loss Challenge.

Members of The Transformers say their work allows them to see daily how much many people struggle just to find something to eat.

"We see people on TV from other countries and how children don't have food. Our city is in the same situation right now," said team member Linda King, who works in Victim Services. "(Hunger) doesn't affect just one group of people. It affects everyone with the economy in the shape it is now."

Leaders with the Yuma Community Food Bank say the donations will come at a crucial time, as the nonprofit stocks its shelves in time for the holidays.

"When you have 945 people participating that is awesome - when those 945 people step up to also support the largest hunger relief organization in Yuma County, that says 'community,'" said Ronna Sue Stubbs, food bank president and CEO. "I just think this is a great idea. This will not only benefit people in the challenge, but benefit the community, too."

Stubbs said she prefers that teams donate their food when the weight loss challenge ends - Dec. 19. But she quickly added that donations will certainly be accepted throughout the challenge, if that's better for some teams.

The Yuma Community Food Bank is located at 2325 S. Engler Ave.

Fattest to Fittest: Yuma vs. Yakima Weight Loss Challenge began Oct. 24. It was inspired by Yuma earning the No. 2 spot on a list of fattest cities in America compiled by the Centers for Disease Control. Yuma and Yakima, Wash., - another city on the list - have both assembled official eight-member teams. Both communities have also encouraged community teams to join the fun and healthy venture.

Linda King said she got the idea for the food challenge from a weight-loss reality show that suggested similar donations.

"And I know the food bank is just an essential part of this community," King said. "So many community agencies rely on the food bank for food."

She said that 9,500 items of food could be donated if 950 people lose just 10 pounds each.

"Of course I'm hoping to donate more than that," King said, chuckling. "This challenge is my incentive. This isn't just me against me, but a challenge involving all of our teams. We're all working together and that works for me. Plus I look at my grandchildren and I don't want Yuma to be the second-fattest city in the U.S."

King lost 3.5 pounds over the first week.

"I'm basically dieting and trying to exercise. I'm not cutting out, just cutting back," she said. "This has been ongoing for my entire life. I've been on every program you can imagine. But this challenge is the thing that has (inspired) me the most. I'm not good one on one. I love challenges."

Fattest to Fittest is being sponsored by the Yuma Sun, Valley of the Sun YMCA, Yuma Regional Medical Center Foundation, Coca-Cola, Nature's Express and Club Yuma.

To see past articles and weekly updates go to YumaSun.com/Contests and click on "Weight Loss Challenge."

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Darin Fenger can be reached at dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.

ATTENTION ALL TEAMS
Team captains must report their team's total pounds lost each Friday by 5 p.m. Call Kay at 539-6843 or e-mail her at kpaiz@yumasun.com.