The Christian Love Center will host its fifth annual Get Fit Kidz Obesity Walk Saturday to bring awareness to youth obesity and the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.

“Not only are we walking, but it promotes a healthier lifestyle,” said Lawanda Bell, program coordinator at CLC. “It shows how important it is for kids to do some form of exercise.”

During the walk, the CLC members will discuss the importance of being healthy, how to do so, and how to make the walk a fun time.

“We are going to be singing songs,” Bell said. “We are going to make it fun. If you can get the kids moving, you can get them active and things will be better for them.”

Bell explained that kids who are healthy and active also do better in school.

“Studies show how healthier children make better grades,” Bell said. “Kids that are active function better. It’s absolutely true.”

The CLC also promotes a healthy lifestyle through its community garden. Students are able to be active in caring for the garden, and they are able to eat healthy as a result.

“They community youth garden plays a huge role in promoting a healthy lifestyle as well as healthy eating,” Bell said. “They are actually growing their own vegetables. When they see that food on their plates, it really puts a healthy lifestyle into perspective.”

Bell said much of the inspiration came from CLC Director Angeline Green, who lost 70 pounds through diet and exercise.

“She was pre-diabetic,” Bell said. “She changed her entire lifestyle with physical activity and lost 70 pounds. It’s amazing to see the transformation.”

Bell said she wants to show this type of motivation to the youth in the community, allowing them to see that a little bit of exercise now can help them when they become adults.

“A lot of children are obese due to lack of exercise,” Bell said. “Technology has really taken over.”

In addition to the walk, the CLC will have a pink balloon release so that they can also bring awareness during breast cancer awareness month.

The walk will begin at 8 a.m. the CLC on Segar Street and will end on The Square in Downtown Troy with the balloon release.

“We want everybody to participate in this great event,” Bell said. “Our goal is to have 1,000 people walking. The public is invited to help us promote a healthier lifestyle in the City of Troy.”