Saunders rolls into Cape with a healthy message

Kevin Saunders' visit to Cape Girardeau on Tuesday gave city officials an opportunity to crow a little bit.

While Saunders is traveling across the country from Canada to Mexico to bring awareness to the importance of a healthy lifestyle, Cape Girardeau Mayor Jay Knudtson can point to several signs that the city is taking seriously what Saunders calls "a war on obesity." Knudtson, who issued a proclamation Tuesday morning on the occasion of Saunders' stop, talked about progress Cape Girardeau has made in that war.

"We've been as aggressive as we can be on the city level," Knudtson said. "Our parks and recreation department continues to stress the benefits of their programs. We have the Shape Up Cape campaign.

"Both hospitals are getting ready to open facilities," Knudtson said in reference to Southeast Missouri Hospital's HeatlhPoint and St. Francis Medical Center's Fitness Plus.

"We've done a lot to recognize health and fitness, so I felt like we weren't starting from ground zero. There's a realization of the importance of fitness, and I'm proud of that."

Saunders, who wheeled 47 miles before completing his journey Tuesday in Advance, Mo., agreed that Cape Girardeau had "a lot of excellent programs in place."

"We just want to encourage more citizens to get active and involved," Saunders said. "I challenged the mayor to improve programs to include the entire community."

Saunders, 48, competed in football, soccer and track in junior college and played rugby at Kansas State University, from which he received a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics in 1978. He went to work for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 1981, Saunders was injured in a grain elevator explosion in Corpus Christi, Texas, that killed 10 people. Saunders was thrown more than 300 feet and landed on a conrete parking lot. He was paralyzed from the chest down and began what he calls his second life.

"I had friends around me who were athletes," Saunders said, "and when I wanted to give up, they wouldn't let me."

Saunders became a world-class wheelchair athlete and later served on the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. He has been a motivational speaker for more than 20 years.

He began the Health and Fitness Tour in June in Detroit to raise awareness at the community level about the importance of exercising and eating healthy. He has met with community leaders along the way to talk about resources and information for them. His trip also is raising money through sponsorships for YMCA, the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association.

Saunders, who will complete this tour in Laredo, Texas, plans a trip through all 50 states in 2005.

"It's really important to take this to the community level because that is where good habits and bad habits are formed," said Saunders, who soon will be releasing an 80-page motivational and lifestyle handbook. "There is so much disease in the country today because of the country's eating habits and lack of exercise.

"For some people, it will take a catastrophic disease -- a stroke or diabetes -- to change their thinking. Sooner or later, it's going to catch up to you.

"Fitness is the key to a lot of things. It's not easy and there's not a pill that will do it for you. If you've got time to goof off, you've got time to exercise and time to eat right. You've got to have time for your health; if you don't have health, what do you got?"

Knudtson said he is aware of the lifestyle problem that exists.

"Our young people are fat," he said. "Kids are not eating what they should be eating and they're not being active like they should.

"We need to continue to support and emphasize the importance of health and wellness, and get kids involved in things instead of sitting on the couch and eating snacks."