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Hip Hop Spirit in St. Louis Steps Out for 50 Million Pound Challenge

Lifts Challenge to Record Month in July for Event Turnout & Past 400,000 Total Pounds Lost Mark

What a month!  Hot on the heels of record crowds in Detroit & Atlanta, St. Louis showed its spirit has a hip hop soul that won't be beat. An impassioned crowd at historic Union Station delivered the third straight packed house for the campaign in as many weeks, capping a remarkable July for Dr. Ian Smith & The 50 Million Pound Challenge as they rally people across America to take control of their health & fight the epidemic of excess weight.  Attendees in St. Louis moved their feet and sang to the beat of top tunes from one of the strongest Challenge all-star line-ups yet. Recording stars Joe, Kelly Price, Shirley Murdock, Slick Rick, DJ Biz Markie, radio host J. Anthony Brown & St. Louis Rams Marshall Faulk joined Dr. Ian to give people a great afternoon of live music & entertainment, and a chance to 'give up the pounds, not the fight.'

The July 28 St. Louis event was the ninth stop on The Challenge's 14-city tour, which is being led by Dr. Ian Smith-the campaign's founder, author of the NY Times #1 bestseller Extreme Fat Smash Diet & expert on VH1's Celebrity Fit Club.  The event drew a crowd site officials estimated to be about 8,000.  Combined with earlier events in Detroit and Atlanta, it gave The Challenge a record monthly turnout in July approaching 35,000.

Attendees in St. Louis were there to have fun, but also to get serious about improving their fitness.  They joined the celebrities-who made a point of signing up on-stage-in registering for The Challenge to start their own personal campaigns to get fit and lose weight, to live longer, look & feel great.

In just fifteen weeks since its launch, The Challenge has taken on more than 185,000 participants, who have taken off more than 400,000 total pounds.  This historic campaign & commitment by the African-American community continues on to Chicago on August 11.  For more information, visit http://www.50millionpounds.com.

Key highlights and comments from St. Louis included:

  • "We came to St. Louis to help people take control of their health, make healthier lifestyle choices and give up the pounds, not the fight," said Dr. Ian Smith. "The groundswell of support for The Challenge continues to build. All across the nation, people are signing up and making good on their commitment to get fit & lose weight.  What began as a simple challenge has become a remarkable commitment across the entire community.  We gained the weight together. We can take it off together.  Looking out for each other, we can reverse these deadly health trends, one small step at a time.  So join us in taking The Challenge.  It's free. It's fun.  The reward is worth the weight-it can save your life, and you'll look & feel great."

  • Missouri State Senator Harry Kennedy & State Representative Connie Johnson offered thanks to Dr. Ian for promoting good heath & fitness, and urged attendees at the event to go to the registration tent and sign up to join The Challenge.

  • Grammy-nominated R&B singer/songwriter Joe came down off the stage to play his top tunes for the crown, and said, "Life can have so much beauty & grace, but only if you're around to enjoy it.  Too many people are having their lives cut short because they aren't giving their health the respect we demand from each other. The Challenge is showing us the way things really are. It's helping us see the consequences of unhealthy choices in what we eat & shape we're in. It's also showing us how things can be.  If you make better choices and believe in yourself, you can reach your personal health goals and find a new ‘you.' There's so much in life worth fighting and living for.  We have the power-let's come together and use it.  We'll live to appreciate it."

  • Grammy-nominated gospel singer Kelly Price offered encouragement and her own personal story to attendees.  She said, "Life is a gift God gives us & we need to guard it carefully. There's too much music & love to share, too much beauty in us all to do otherwise. We need to make room for our health, just as we make room for those we love, because it can go away so quickly. The Challenge is a welcome alarm telling us it's time to make a change.  It's time to take control.  Losing weight & getting in shape isn't easy. It takes faith & determination to climb the mountain. But we can do anything we want to if we really put our minds to it. The journey may be difficult, but The Challenge is helping to make it easier.  And the view from the top makes it all worthwhile."

  • St. Louis Rams star & future Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk was introduced by Dr. Ian as "one of the baddest running backs of all time."  He told people that keeping their bodies in shape & at a healthy weight should be part of everyone's game plan for a longer, healthier life. He challenged St. Louis as a city & Missouri as a state to be the very best when it comes to taking off excess weight and taking control of their health. He signed autographs for hundreds of Rams fans.

  • Rounding out the day was more great music to move people's bodies & souls from singer Shirley Murdock, rapper Slick Rick, and renowned DJ Biz Markie, as well as lots of laughs & love from national radio host J. Anthony Brown.

  • The day concluded with Dr. Ian & the celebrities joining participants in a Challenge walk around St. Louis' historic Union Station to mark the first steps in their commitment to make better lifestyle choices & enjoy healthier, longer lives.