Montgomery, AL – There's been some expanding going on in Alabama's statewide weight-loss campaign, but it's the kind of increase organizers were hoping for.
They say 10,000 teams started weighing out around the state Tuesday. That's double the 5,000 groups that participated in last year's program.
The 10-week program began January 5th and ends Friday.
More than 20,000 Alabamians participated last year and lost 78,472 pounds.
This year there are more than 40,000 participants and everyone who achieves the goal of losing 10 pounds will be eligible for a raffle in which 20 prizes of $250 will be given away.
Those who are on teams where all four members lost 10 pounds will also be eligible for a drawing to receive $1,000 each on April 1.
Miriam Gaines, nutrition and physical activity director for the state health department, says that means some people have a chance of winning $1,250.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)