Let's Get Moving Northern Michigan - the annual community effort to improve health through physical activity - will begin later this month.

The regional program challenges communities across northern Michigan to outdo one another by earning 100 “miles” in 100 days by engaging in several kinds of physical activity, such as walking, biking, gardening, swimming and canoeing.

Participants can exercise alone or with friends and at their own pace. This year’s program starts May 21 and runs through Aug. 28.

The community that earns the most miles wins an award from the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness. Leelanau County won the 2004 award for most miles earned in a rural community.

Leelanau County has teams in Empire, Suttons Bay, Leland, Glen Arbor, Maple City/Cedar and Northport. Participants don’t have to live in one of the communities to take part in Let’s Get Moving Northern Michigan. To register online, visit www.lgmnm.org or call Jenifer Murray at 256-0208.

Registration forms are also available at Deering’s Market in Empire; the Suttons Bay-Bingham Library and Body Balance in Suttons Bay; Old Art Building in Leland; the Glen Arbor Athletic Club in Glen Arbor; the Cedar Area Community Foundation in Cedar; and Leelanau Township Library and ABC Training in Northport.

A Let’s Get Moving kickoff event will be held at the Grand Traverse Area Civic Center on May 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. Billy Mills, a Native American who won a gold medal in the 10,000 meter run in the Tokyo Olympics, will be the featured speaker. There will be free pedometers and other giveaways while supplies last.