Sports celebrities will join members of SFIA, the leadership of  American College of Sports Medicine, sporting goods and fitness retailers, professional sports leagues, P.E. teachers, association leaders, other physical activity advocates and ‘friends of the industry’ for National Health Through Fitness Day.

The list of sports celebrities–which includes one Heisman Trophy winner, one NHL Hall-of-Famer, two U.S. Olympic Gold Medalists (swimming and basketball), one Super Bowl champion and a 10-time MLB All-Star– committed to attending National Health Through Fitness Day includes:

  • Herschel Walker – Football legend/Heisman Trophy winner/U.S. Winter Olympian
  • Natalie Coughlin – 12-time U.S. Olympic swimming medalist/three-time Olympian
  • Pat LaFontaine – NHL Hall of Famer
  • Sam Perkins – 1982 NCAA basketball champion (Univ. of North Carolina)/1984 Olympic basketball gold medalist (USA)/former NBA great
  • Steve Garvey — 1974 National League MVP; 10-time MLB All-Star (Dodgers & Padres)
  • Santana Moss – 14-year NFL wide receiver (Jets & Redskins); 2005 NFL All-Pro
  • Tommy John — Former MLB pitcher
  • Ken Harvey – Former four-time NFL All-Pro linebacker (Redskins)
  • John Booty – Former NFL defensive back (Eagles, Giants, Jets, Cardinals, & Buccaneers)
  • Roland Williams – 1998 NFL Rookie of the Year/1999 Super Bowl champion (Rams)
  • Queen Harrison – 2008 U.S. Olympic 400-meter runner
  • Abbey D’Agostino – 2016 U.S. Olympic 5,000-meter runner
  • Connor Barwin – current NFL linebacker (LA Rams)

WHEN: Tuesday-Wednesday, March 6-7

WHERE: Reception (March 6)

5:30 p.m. – 8:00 pm at the Russell Senate Building – Russell Caucus Room (SR 325)
Briefing Breakfast (March 7)

7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center
Group Photo (March 7)

9:00 a.m. – Front of the U.S. Capitol Building
Congressional Meetings on Capitol Hill:

9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Senate Office Buildings (Hart, Dirksen and Russell)
House Office Buildings (Rayburn, Cannon and Longworth)

WHAT:  Meet with members of Congress to promote two initiatives that will help Americans (of all ages) adopt more physically active and healthy lifestyles.

  • Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act would change current federal tax law to allow for the deduction or use of pre-tax dollars to cover expenses related to sports, fitness and other physical activities.
  • Physical Activity Recommendations – Have the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) update the guidelines every 10 years to provide recommendations based on a preponderance of current scientific and medical knowledge, and including guidelines for identified population subgroups, as needed.  

WHY:  With the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reporting that more than 50% of American adults don’t get the recommended amount of physical activity, we need to do more to encourage physically active lifestyles in America. Youth activity sets children on the right path to understanding the importance of physical activity, and the PHIT Act will help families with the cost of active lifestyles to reverse the obesity trend plaguing America, where more than 120 million Americans are overweight, obese and/or physically inactive.