DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE - If you're looking to get active in Fort Providence, you don't have to look very far.

The One-Tonne Challenge kicked off last week and organizers Lois Phillip, Shauna McLeod and Karen Ludlow have put together a full-schedule of events to give community members a chance to work off some of that extra winter insulation.

"It's an initiative to get everyone outside and active," said Ludlow. "It's for all community members. The last time we did this, it was just for adults, but this time we tried to include kids and teens."

The challenge will run for 10 weeks, ending sometime in the middle of June, said Ludlow.

Activities are organized for every night of the week except Saturday, and they include group bike rides, circuit training classes, learn-to-run programs and video fitness exercises.

"There is a biking club that is going to start at the arena," said Ludlow. From there, the group will do a tour of the community or bike out to the campgrounds.

The learn-to-run program also starts at the arena every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday night. So far, the runs have been held indoors, but Ludlow hoped to take the runs outdoors soon, once it warmed up.

Circuit training takes place Wednesday nights at the school gym, where participants go through 10 to 12 different exercises in the 30-minute class.

Participants who wish to monitor the pounds they burn off can see how they are doing at community weigh-ins at the arena every Tuesday night.

The One-Tonne Challenge name, in fact, is based on the ambitious goal of trying to get community members to shed one tonne of weight in total.

"It's a pretty huge goal," admitted Ludlow, who said that is not really the main focus of the initiative. "It is about seeing what people can do to change their fitness levels," she said.

The event has been held for a few years now, but is off to a bit of a slow start this year due to the uncooperative weather, said Ludlow.

"The weather was quite cool last week," she said, but added she has received calls inquiring about the challenge from interested residents.

Ludlow said the challenge is set for this time of year for a reason, too.

"It's something to get people out in the spring time before all the bugs come out," she said.

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