Guinness World Records Largest ZUMBA Fitness Class

The City of Brownsville has a chance to be known worldwide for its record-breaking Latin rhythm. An attempt to break a Guinness World Records ™ for the Largest Zumba Class is scheduled to take place from 9 a.m. – noon April 30 at the Brownsville Sports Park.

Local Valley residents are invited to come out for some dancing, a nice workout and lots of fun—all while trying to break a world record. Gates will open at 7:30 a.m. with access to sponsored booths. Interior gates for the turf field will open at 8:30 a.m. and ZUMBA ® Class will start around 9:30 a.m. Only participants who stay until the end of the event will be eligible to win door prizes from various sponsors.

The city of Glasgow in Scotland is also competing for the same record on the same date, which is why Valley-wide community members are encouraged to participate. The Brownsville Convention and Visitors Bureau has challenged other cities in the Rio Grande Valley to participate in this record breaking Zumba® class.

This free event, which sponsored by The City of Brownsville and other partners, is part of the "Brownsville Biggest Loser Challenge." The challenge a series of events in a four-month period designed to bring awareness to wellness and to engage the community to living a healthy lifestyle.

"Our reality is that 80 percent of our population is either obese or overweight," said Brownsville Commissioner, Dr. Rose Gowen. "These rates surpass the rest of the country, but many people do not understand the relationship between obesity related diseases and the economy, especially in a poor community such as ours."

The Brownsville Biggest Loser challenge was created by the City of Brownsville Public Health Department and the Parks and Recreation Department in collaboration with the UT Houston School of Public Health.

For more information on the Guinness World Records™ Largest ZUMBA® Class, please contact Judy Garcia, Brownsville Health Department, at (956) 547-6531 or via e-mail at judy.garcia@cob.us For a complete schedule of events for the Brownsville Biggest Loser Challenge and for more information, visit their Web site online at bbl.cob.us.