2009 Summer National Senior Games Send-Off Tour to Stop in Houston, Host City for 2011 Games

The send-off tour for the 2009 Summer National Senior Games, presented by Humana, will visit Houston today. The biennial games, the largest multi-sport event in the world for seniors, will be held Aug. 1-15 in Palo Alto, Calif.

The send-off will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the Rotunda at City Hall, 901 Bagby St. Speakers will include Sue Lovell, Houston Mayor Pro Tem; Dr. George Smith, president of Humana Senior Products, Texas; Pattie Dale Tye, president, Humana of Houston; Dan Wolterman, 2011 National Senior Games Local Organizing Committee Chairman; Greg Ortale, President and CEO Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau as well as a number of athletes.

Houston will host the National Senior Games in 2011.

More than 10,000 athletes ages 50 and above, including 525 from Texas, will compete in the 2009 Summer National Senior Games, which emphasize vitality at all ages. The athletes will compete in more than 800 events over 15 days in sports including: track and field, swimming, volleyball, triathlon, golf and many more.

Among them are two inspiring women from the Houston area, Jenny Booth and DeEtte Sauer.

Jenny Booth, 51, from Magnolia, wanted to commit herself to being more fit and healthy after having life-threatening brain-surgery in 2001. In 2007, she picked up a bicycle for the first time. Within weeks, she was riding more than 100 miles per week. Today, she is one of the state’s leading fundraisers for multiple sclerosis, and is going to the National Senior Games for the first time with an eye on a medal for her cycling team. "I feel more fit and better than I ever have in my life,” said Booth. "I hope I can help to inspire other people to be, and stay, active as well.”

DeEtte Sauer, 67, from Houston, is a veteran of the National Senior Games, and will be one of the torch-bearers for the event this year. Nine years ago, she decided to start swimming recreationally. Soon after, she found herself competing and winning events. Now, the proud owner of several medals in a number of events, she trains six days a week in anticipation of this year’s games. "I like to encourage people to pursue what they love and like to do- it’s unlimited,” said Sauer. "It’s all about shaking off the limitations in our heads.”

"Athletes like Jenny and DeEtte serve as role models when it comes to healthy aging,” said Dr. George Smith, president of Humana Senior Products, Texas. "We know even modest exercise results in improvements in blood pressure, diabetes, lipid profile, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and brain function. Still, it can be difficult to get started. The National Senior Games makes it fun through healthy competition.”

Send-off events were held the last two weeks in Louisville and Cleveland. Additional events are scheduled for July 23 in Denver and July 29 in Las Vegas. For more information on the send-off tour and tips on how to get and stay fit over 50, visit www.humana.com/seniorgames or www.nsga.com.

About Humana

Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is one of the nation’s largest publicly traded health and supplemental benefits companies, with approximately 10.4 million medical members. Humana is a full-service benefits solutions company, offering a wide array of health and supplementary benefit plans for employer groups, government programs and individuals.

Over its 48-year history, Humana has consistently seized opportunities to meet changing customer needs. Today, the company is a leader in consumer engagement, providing guidance that leads to lower costs and a better health plan experience throughout its diversified customer portfolio.

About National Senior Games Association

The National Senior Games Association is a non-profit member of the United States Olympic Committee dedicated to motivating senior men and women to lead a healthy lifestyle through the senior games movement.

The organization governs the Summer National Senior Games, the largest multi-sport event in the world for seniors, and other national senior athletic events. It is an umbrella for member state organizations across the United States that host State Senior Games or Senior Olympics. The NSGA supports and sanctions these member state organizations so that adults can participate in their state in events year-round. www.nsga.com