The new Challenge Team "Marvin Sapp and Friends" is created to inspire and encourage people around the country to get serious about their health and make a concerted effort to lose weight.  People can join the team by logging on to www.50millionpounds.com and clicking on Marvin Sapp’s picture.  During the U Made It tour, Sapp will talk about his weight loss journey and meet select team members around the country. 

“I have struggled to lose weight all my life and have finally decided that enough is enough.  I want to alleviate health concerns and set a good example for my family and church, so I am happy to have the support system and resources of Dr. Ian Smith and The 50 Million Pound Challenge to successfully create a healthy lifestyle,” says Sapp.  “I will be talking about my efforts with my fans and supporters online and on tour.  Together, we can improve our health and lives.”

“I applaud Marvin for not only his personal commitment to his own health, but for his commitment to encouraging others,” said Dr. Ian Smith, Challenge founder.  “He and his team join the more than 1 million people who have registered and 50millionpounds.com and found the free tools and support to lose more than 4 million pounds. I will work with Marvin as he follows my plan, The 4 Day Diet.  This program will not only transform him physically, but help him lead a healthier, happier, and longer life.”

Marvin Sapp is a multiple Stellar Award winning and Grammy nominated Gospel artist who’s breakout hit “Never Would Have Made It” is the longest #1 radio single in the history of Nielsen/BDS and was named top song of 2008 by The Associated Press.  Sapp is senior pastor of Lighthouse Full Life Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan and, along with his wife MaLinda, founded The Grand Rapids Ellington Academy of Arts and Technology.

The Challenge is a free national health initiative launched April 2007 to rally Americans to come together to ‘Give up the pounds, not the fight.’ It aims to reach its goal by making it easier for millions to join together to fight the epidemic of excess weight and weight-related illness.  Today more than 135 million Americans and two-thirds of adults are overweight, with the obesity rate doubling in the last few decades.  Each week, 10,000 die from heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and other illness related to inactivity and diet.  African Americans are especially hard hit: 80% of women and 67% of men face higher risk from weight-related illness, with life expectancy five years below the U.S. average. 

Anyone can join The Challenge at 50millionpounds.com, the campaign’s online support community. The site tallies total pounds lost and offers participants free resources provided by sponsor State Farm®, including a 30-day diet plan, personal weight and activity trackers, and Challenge teams to make fitness easier and more fun.  Currently, more than 28,000 Challenge teams are helping members of teams lose 23 percent more weight than the overall campaign average. It’s a winning formula—and cities, churches, civic groups, friends and families across America are teaming up to help reverse the epidemic of excess weight and turn it into a culture of healthier living.