Urban Rebounding for Diabetes at Bally Total Fitness; JB Berns, Founde

    Business Editors/Health/Fitness Writers

    NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 25, 2005--On Saturday, February 26, 2005, Bally Total Fitness (NYSE:BFT) will host an Urban Rebounding For Diabetes marathon to raise funds for people with diabetes. JB Berns, founder of Urban Rebounding, will lead the marathon, which will feature Meredith Vieira, moderator for ABC's "The View" and host of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." The Urban Rebounding For Diabetes marathon will take place at Bally Total Fitness, located at 6th Avenue and 19th Street from 11a.m. to 5p.m. Proceeds of the event will benefit the American Diabetes Association.
    Urban Rebounding (www.urbanrebounding.com), created by the fitness expert, JB Berns, is a low impact aerobic workout performed on an Urban Rebounder (mini trampoline). "Urban Rebounding is a great way to get your circulation going and lose weight," said JB Berns. "At the same time, we are raising funds for the American Diabetes Association to help further their research, information and advocacy efforts for people with diabetes."
    More than 18 million people in the United States, or 6.3 percent of the population, have diabetes. While approximately 13 million Americans have been diagnosed, 5.2 million people are not aware that they have the disease. Each day, more than 2,740 people are diagnosed with diabetes. About 1.3 million people will be diagnosed this year.
    "This event will allow Bally Total Fitness to draw attention to the benefits of exercise and its role in preventing the onset of diabetes while helping raise funds to aid in the fight against this deadly disease," said Barbara Feit, area vice president for Bally Total Fitness.
    "We are very excited to have JB Berns and Bally Total Fitness involved with raising funds for diabetes," said Christopher Smith, senior executive director, Greater New York City & Northern New Jersey, American Diabetes Association. "Getting active is key in preventing as well as controlling diabetes."
    The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the Association has offices in every region of the country providing services in more than 800 communities.
    To register for Urban Rebounding for Diabetes, call Andy Tjan at 1-888-725-4925 ext. 3410, or visit www.diabetes.org/urbanrebounding. There is a $25 registration fee. Proceeds from the marathon will benefit the American Diabetes Association.
    For more information about diabetes or the American Diabetes Association, call 1-888-DIABETES (1-888-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org.

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CONTACT: SparkPlug Communications Gabrielle Bernstein, 212-967-1251 or Bally Total Fitness Matt Messinger, 212-993-0366 or American Diabetes Association Angela Russo, 212-725-4925 ext. 3414

KEYWORD: NEW YORK INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SPORTS MEDICAL SOURCE: Bally Total Fitness

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