Batter up! Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan challenges kids to Train like an All-Star

Blue Cross continues effort to help strike out childhood obesity and get kids active

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Mar 09, 2015, 04:06 ET

DETROIT, March 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan wants kids to lace up their cleats and "Train like an All-Star" with its latest #MIKidsCan challenge, in alignment with the Detroit Tigers spring training. Kids across the state can pledge to Train like an All-Star for a chance to earn one of six spots on the Blue Cross All-Star Team at Tigers Kids' Opening Day on Sunday, April 19.

"Winter is ending. Now is the time to connect with our kids about taking advantage of warmer weather to get outside and play every day – and the important nutrition habits they need to have to play like all-stars," said Andy Hetzel, vice president of Corporate Communications for Blue Cross. "The #MIKidsCan Train like an All-Star Challenge supports Blue Cross' ongoing efforts to show kids that daily physical activity can be fun. It's important that we encourage our kids to develop healthy habits while they're young, so these habits stick with them into adulthood. Making exercise fun, such as training like their favorite baseball player, is the best way to encourage kids to get involved."

The challenge calls on kids ages 5-14 to pledge to "round the bases" weekly by working with their parents and guardians to complete four health activities during March. Six winners will be selected and announced on April 6. In addition to joining the Blue Cross All-Star Team for on-field activities at Comerica Park on April 19, each winner will also receive four tickets to attend the game.

Upon registration, parents can create a customized Training like an All-Star baseball card with their child's photo. Parents can also share photos of their kids completing the weekly challenges for an opportunity to win prize giveaways. One winner will be randomly selected from the photo submissions each week to receive a Train like an All-Star prize pack. Parents can get more information on the challenge and register their kids to participate at AHealthierMichigan.org/mikidscan.

#MIKidsCan Train like an All-Star Challenge supports Blue Cross' ongoing commitment to children's health and its #MIKidsCan campaign – an initiative focused on encouraging kids to adopt healthy habits early in life that are more likely to be carried into adulthood.

Over the last 10 years, BCBSM has given more than $6 million in support of kids' health and wellness initiatives across the state, reaching more than 100,000 children. For more information on the challenge and Blue Cross' ongoing efforts to help improve childhood health, visit www.AHealthierMichigan.org/mikidscan or follow #MIKidsCan on Twitter.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit mutual insurance company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCBSM provides and administers health benefits to more than 4.4 million members residing in Michigan in addition to employees of Michigan-headquartered companies who reside outside the state. For more company information, visit bcbsm.com and MiBluesPerspectives.com.

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan