Mayor Curtatone and friends invite one and all to take the Fitness Challenge, beginning this weekend.

The fifth annual Somerville Mayor’s Fitness Challenge kicks off March 29. The Fitness Challenge is a 10-week event that offers both a team fitness challenge as well as a non-competitive “lifestyle pledge” in cooperation with Wellcoin Positive Health Currency. Both offer rewards for participants ranging from better health to discounts at local businesses.

Individuals who join the team challenge will earn points for weight loss and changes in body mass index (BMI), while those who take the pledge will earn Wellcoin points to use in participating events and programs. Wellcoin offers incentives through local businesses and restaurants in its Reward Center (for more information and to sign up, visit www.wellcoin.com). Throughout the program, teams and individuals will earn discounts to local restaurants and businesses, and participants will receive a Fitness Challenge bag at one of four kickoff events during Kickoff Week from Saturday, March 29, through Thursday, April 3. All participants will receive extra points for attending validated events and programs, including fitness classes and demonstrations, workshops and city-sponsored events.

All kickoff events will include distribution of fitness bags, giveaways from Brooklyn Boulders, massages by Lincoln Technical Institute, Reiki demonstrations, health and wellness information and displays, arts and crafts and other recreational programming for children and adults.

More information about the program can be found at www.somervillema.gov or by calling Director of Community Relations Carlene Campbell-Hegarty at 617-625-6600, ext. 2615, or CCampbell@somervillema.gov.