For more than a decade, Clark County residents have been put the challenge to see if they can achieve better health and wellness over the course of about three months.

The annual Clark County Wellness Challenge kicks off Feb. 27 with a celebration from 5 to 7 p.m. at College Park Gym, 15 Wheeler Ave. Participants can meet sponsors of the annual 11-week countywide challenge meant to encourage physical wellness and health education.

Registration will also be available March 6. Registration and weekly check-ins are available at Parks and Recreations, Clark County Health Department, Clark Clinic B and Winchester Family Practice.

Residents of Clark and surrounding counties are eligible to participate.

For just $15, participants have access to a massive list of classes, workshops and discounts. More about the challenge is available at cactivitycoalition.com.

While the challenge’s major goal is to improve wellness, there are many benefits to this popular annual initiative.

The challenge helps expose people in the community to many options for health, wellness and fitness programs right here in Clark County. Participants get to try free group fitness classes, community events like lunch walks at The Traveling Trail, classes at parks and recreation, nutrition and wellness classes and more.

The benefit of trying programs during the challenge window is that many other “newbies” will likely be in the room. Instructors will also be more keenly aware that many first-timers will be in classes, and can modify instruction to make it less intimidating

There are discount punch cards for locally-owned restaurants that offer fresh, healthier choices for meals on the go. This gets exposure for local restaurants, but also encourages participants to look at the many healthier options available on menus when eating out.

Most importantly, at such a low price, the program makes these great health and fitness programs accessible to more people. Sometimes exercise and fitness programs can be cost prohibitive. By offering this opportunity at a low price, hundreds more people will be exposed to healthier lifestyle choices.

We encourage the community to look more into this great program. Learn something new. Try something different. Implement something from one of the workshops. Fellowship with other local people eager to make some lifestyle improvements.