For immediate release: August 5, 2011
Contact: Sean McManus  (802) 764-4831

Burlington, VT – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is once again inviting the public to a Hike, Bike & Paddle event, Saturday, Aug. 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at North Beach in Burlington. This free community event offers an opportunity for individuals to get outside and enjoy hiking, biking, canoeing and kayaking.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont will provide free healthy snacks, including smoothies from their blender bike. The first 100 participants will also receive a free Hike, Bike & Paddle T-shirt.  Free bike and canoe rentals will be available through Local Motion (www.localmotion.org) and Canoe Imports (www.canoeimports.com). Rentals, however, are limited.
Parking: Parking at Burlington High School is free, and requires a short walk to the waterfront. Parking at the beach is $5/car for Burlington residents or $8/car for non-residents.
Hike, Bike & Paddle is one of many initiatives by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont to encourage physical activity in the great Vermont outdoors. This is the second of three Hike, Bike & Paddle events in 2011. The first Hike, Bike & Paddle took place in Ludlow on Saturday,
July 23 at Camp Plymouth State Park.

The next Hike, Bike & Paddle takes place in Craftsbury on Saturday, Aug. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center. Visit the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont website, www.bcbsvt.com, for more information about the Hike, Bike & Paddle events.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is the state’s oldest and largest health insurer, providing coverage for about 150,000 Vermonters. It employs more than 340 Vermonters at its headquarters in Berlin and branch office in South Burlington, and offers group and individual health plans. More information about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is available on the Internet at www.bcbsvt.com. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is an independent corporation operating under a license with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.