Obesity awareness challenge

My project is to conduct a 50 day 50 kilometer per day jogging/walking event to raise awareness of the obesity epidemic in our country. Overall, fully 1/3 of all adults in the US are obese and almost 2/3's are either overweight or obese! The impact on the obese individual's quality of life is devastating. The financial impact on the taxpayer is enormous. Please see the following plan summary:

The 50/50 (Attack on Obesity) Plan

Summary Description

I am concerned about the obesity epidemic in our country which, despite significant government spending on education continues to spiral out of control. I have read that obesity incremental costs in excess of $500 billion per year to the health care system. I am planning an event to raise awareness of this problem, to propose solutions and encourage participation. The event will be a 50 k per day jog/walk for 50 consecutive days (a 50/50). The route will be designed to terminate daily at a community where an evening town hall meeting will be held to discuss the issue and solutions. Local residents will be invited to join me in my daily exercise program (for all or part of that day's leg).The project will involve a route around the state of Arkansas and will break the day into two 25 km segments, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Where possible, the plan would also include stopping in other communities during the mid-day break and making a noon informational presentation at that time. Residents from all communities would be invited to join me in any portion of the event. The media will be encouraged to provide coverage.

I am a 71 year old retired male community activist and hope to demonstrate the need for persons of all ages to exercise daily. I am willing to take on this 50/50 event as a personal challenge

The objectives of the project are three-fold:

1.To raise the awareness of the obesity epidemic in the state (specifically in our communities) as well as the associated costs in financial terms and also in the quality of our lives.

2.To identify the primary causes of the epidemic.

3.To provide reasonable, cost effective, understandable and easy to implement solutions.

I am committed to fund this effort with $5,000 personally and am hoping to raise an additional $10,000 for the balance needed.

The draft budget follows:

Support and Financing Plan

Sources of Funds:

Dave's contribution $ 5,000

Fund Raising Objective 10,000

Total sources $ 15,000

Outlays:

Support team volunteers

Support vehicle fuel $ 1,500

Accommodation (50 nights) 5,000

Meals (300 x $15) 4,500

Supplies & gear 1,500

Presentation materials & leave behinds 2,500

Total Outlays $15,000