The High Desert Slimdown Challenge was a brainchild of Dr. Jim Krider. Early 2006 he approached the Daily Press with the idea of running a competition promoting weight loss and general health. Quickly, Registered Dietitian Melanie Ajanwachuku joined the team and together they started to develop the first Slimdown Challenge. However, the program was not complete till Ken Chambers and Sunland Ford in Victorville stepped up to the plate and generously put a brand new Ford Fusion on the line as the grand prize. The Daily Press kicked off the first annual High Desert Slimdown Challenge in July of 2006, and over the next five months, ten challengers fought to lose weight and to win the Ford Fusion. In the end, Robert Edgar lost the highest percentage of body fat - a total of close to 150 pounds!

The Daily Press presents the second annual High Desert Slimdown Challenge featuring ten teams of two. the Challenge runs from April through December 2007. Once again, Sunland Ford is giving away a brand new Ford Fusion to the winners, and once again, it is Dr. Jim Krider and Registered Dietitian Melanie Ajanwachuku in a close partnership with the Daily Press that has developed the Slimdown program.

To contact the High Desert Slimdown Challenge, please email Susan Drake at sdrake@vvdailypress.com

The High Desert Slimdown Challenge is an entity of the Daily Press. To learn more about the Daily Press and its products, please visit www.vvdailypress.com or call 760-241-7744.