Events Saturday are intended to raise awareness for healthy children.

Activate Bismarck-Mandan offers events at different locations in Mandan and Bismarck as part of its Healthy Kids Day.

The day was made possible because of the efforts of 100 University of Mary students who organized the events.

"They wanted to do something to get everyone involved, not only the grade schools," but families too, said Bon Wikenheiser, facilitator of the Emerging Leaders Academy in business. The Emerging Leaders Academy is a part of the Harold Schafer Leadership Center. Students help on different community projects.

Activities include: a fun run-walk at 10 a.m., starting at Spirit of Life Church in Mandan, a health fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kirkwood Mall, a community forum on building a healthy community at the YMCA from 5 to 6 p.m. and a one-mile fun run-walk at the YMCA at 6:30 p.m.

A variety of activities for children and their families will be at Roosevelt School in Mandan from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and then at the YMCA from 6 to 9 p.m. It includes athletic and nonathletic-type activities.

The event is anticipated to draw 800 children and their families, Wikenheiser said. The University of Mary students created activities based on the ones children liked at school, and then thought of activities that could appeal to all kinds of people, she said.

The students also were responsible for finding corporate sponsorships and coordinating the day's events, she said.

Activate Bismarck-Mandan is a community organization that promotes a healthier lifestyle through families becoming more active. It has a school-based component and a community challenge for participants to reach goals in fitness and nutrition.

More information about Healthy Kids Day and Activate Bismarck-Mandan is available at www.weactivate.com or by calling the YMCA at 255-1525.