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Richmond, Va., is the second most obese city in the country, with 29.4 percent of the population weighing-in as obese, according to a Gallup survey. So, Black Girls RUN! is headed to Richmond for the fourth stop on its Preserve the Sexy Tour, sponsored by ESSENCE magazine. This tour is traveling to cities in the “Stroke Belt,” which have some of the highest obesity rates in the United States, to host one-day health and fitness clinics. The Richmond tour stop will be held on Saturday, March 16 at the Imani Catering – Conference Center (1506 Hull Street Richmond, VA 23224). The center sits adjacent to First Baptist Church of South Richmond.

Black Girls RUN! co-founders, Toni Carey and Ashley Hicks, will kick-off the event, along with the Black Girls RUN! Richmond group that was launched in the area late September 2012. Local Richmonders, natural hair care stylist Karen Wilson, clinical dietician Katrice Mayo, R.D., and Claire Shurtz from REI will be talking about hair care, nutrition, and the basics of running. Miss Selena Watkins, 2012-2013 Miss Black USA will also be a featured guest speaker.

“The rate of adults and children diagnosed as overweight or obese are staggering. It will take a collaborative effort from the community to build a healthier community,” said Ashley Hicks, co-founder of Black Girls RUN!.

The Preserve The Sexy Tour will feature Black Girls RUN!’s unique “Walk Before You RUN!” training program, guiding women in their journey from walking to running. Participants will also receive information and tools on choosing the best running gear, hair maintenance tips, nutrition and healthy eating, and more.

Upcoming “Preserve the Sexy” tour stops include:

March 16 – Richmond, Va.

April 20 – Atlanta

May 11 – Jackson, Miss.

June 8 – Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C.

The tour is open to beginner runners, walkers, non-Black Girls RUN! members and current Black Girls RUN! members. Participants attending the Preserve The Sexy Tour will receive a comprehensive toolkit to get them out of the door and onto the pavement.  Click here to register for the March 16, Richmond, Virginia tour stop. Tickets are on sale online until March 15.

“Too many women have been intimidated by the idea of running because they started out too fast or went too hard. We want to provide women who are interested in running the solid foundation they need to get started in a fun, relaxing atmosphere,” said Toni Carey, co-founder of Black Girls RUN!. “With the ‘Preserve the Sexy Tour’ we want to encourage African-American women in areas with high obesity rates to embark on a healthy lifestyle, and reach out to our local communities to enhance its focus on obesity prevention all levels.”

For all “Preserve the Sexy Tour” updates and to register for the event, visit www.blackgirlsrun.com. You can also follow Black Girls RUN! on Twitter at @BlackGirlsRUN or use the hashtag #PTST13.