Have you noticed that it is decidedly more colorful around here lately? At least it is if you look down… That’s because The Tannery Marketplace is trying to get everyone to “Lace Up & Shape Up”. The lace up part of the challenge is that you get a pair of bright orange laces when you register. This is a clear identifier that you are a participant.
In partnership with Anna Jaques Hospital, The Tannery Marketplace is enrolling residents of Newburyport and its six surrounding communities into a challenge to start and exercise regime.
The “Shape up & Lace up Challenge” offers points to participants for proof of exercise and/or weight loss. These points are then converted to money that The Tannery Marketplace and its corporate partners are donating to charities that the participants have chosen. David Hall, the Tannery’s owner said that “general fund is currently a little over $5000 and will be distributed to charities on a percentage basis from the totals raised by each participant or team.” In addition to the charity points earned participants can earn Tannery Bucks, which can be redeemed as currency in the Tannery Marketplace businesses. In addition, participants can wear their registration bracelets into Tannery Marketplace shops to receive special weekly discounts.
An interesting part of the challenge is that participants can maximize their charity points by sending in photos as proof of exercise. The photos are posted to The Tannery’s Facebook Fan Page where there are a growing number of fun examples of participants getting fit! To date there are 250 participants who are earning points for over a dozen charities of their choosing.
David Hall, says “The Fan Page has really become active with folks getting excited about sharing their photos” he adds, “We’ve had some great ones posted! People are getting really creative and wonderful to see whole families participating together.”
Anna Jaques Hospital has partnered with the Tannery by providing exercise and nutrition tips on the Fan Page to help keep participants “inspired, motivated, and headed toward their goals”. In addition AJH will be providing speakers for a lecture series to premiere at The Tannery Marketplace on March 27th. Motivational speakers will cover topics to include; the link between sleep and its connection to wellness, journaling, spirit wellness, as well as a personal weight loss story. The public as well as challenge participants are invited to attend this free series. Speakers will present at the Jabberwocky Bookshop in The Tannery Marketplace at 10:30 AM for 4 weeks, March 27, April 3, 10, and 17th.
Registration for the “Lace Up & Shape Up Challenge” is open until April 11th, and is open to residents of Newburyport, Newbury, West Newbury, Salisbury, Georgetown, Amesbury, and Salisbury. Participants can register online or at the Lace UP Lab located in Mill #1, check The Tannery’s calendar for lab times. The challenge ends on May 9th.
