Online registration available for Healthy Lombard's Flat Apple program

Registering and participating in Healthy Lombard's annual Flat Apple program is easier than ever this year, according to Healthy Lombard founder Jay Wojcik.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to sign their children up for the free program at healthylombard.org/2014flatapple before the first Flat Apple events on June 14.

Now in its third year, the program provides children a chance to earn tickets for raffle prizes by doing physical activities from now through August.

"We just want people to get out and get active and have fun this summer," Wojcik said.

For the first two years of the program, participants were required to fill out forms with their contact information to get a raffle ticket for every activity they did. Wojcik is hopeful the online registration will make participation in the program less time-consuming.

This year, after registering online, participants will receive an email with a copy of the Healthy Lombard logo - a two-dimensional logo of an apple, which is the reason the program is called Flat Apple. The logo can be printed out or even downloaded onto a mobile device.

During the summer, participants are encouraged to take photos of themselves with the apple while participating in exercise activities.

Participants will receive two "bites" at the apple, or raffle tickets, for each photo they submit to jay@healthylombard.com with their name and phone number. Wojcik said the activities could range from gardening or walking a dog to swimming or playing Frisbee.

In addition, participants will have a chance to earn one "bite" just by attending hot-spot events where Healthy Lombard representatives will be present. The first two events will take place on June 14 at the Helen Plum Library Sizzling Summer Picnic and Lombard Cruise Nights.

Other hot-spot events include The Outreach House's Reach Out for Outreach Dash on Ash on June 26; Taste of Lombard on July 1; the Lombard Historical Society Civil War Encampment on July 27; National Night Out on Aug. 5; open house events at Sky Centers Martial Arts; and events at the Peck Homestead and the Victorian Cottage.

At all of the events, Healthy Lombard will have space set up for group exercise activities, such as family zumba and Hula-Hoop contests. Wojcik said Healthy Lombard representatives are willing to set up hot spots at additional events this summer, should organizers express interest.

Raffle prizes are still being determined, but they may include a bicycle, electronics such as an iPad and Beats headphones, and gift cards to local merchants, Wojcik said. Winners will be announced in mid-August.

For information about newly added hot-spot events, raffle winners and more, visit facebook.com/healthylombard or call (630) 916-0519. Participants who sign up at healthylombard.com will also get emails throughout the summer with updates on the program.