A local real estate company is hoping to inspire Turlock and beyond to lead healthier lives with a fitness challenge kicking off this weekend.

The Aspire Fitness Challenge, hosted by Aspire Home Real Estate, is a 30-day effort meant to encourage the community to partake in activities that will improve their overall health, whether it be exercise, diet, or both, capped off with a celebratory fun run in March. While the challenge officially kicked off on Friday, participants can jump in at any time, Aspire owner Scott Snyder said.

“Obviously there are a lot of other fitness options and diets, but we wanted to do something that was really practical with no expense,” Snyder said. “This gives people the opportunity in these 30 days to say, ‘Hey, I’m going to take the Aspire Fitness Challenge and really exercise more this month.”

By signing up online at AspireFitnessChallenge.com, participants can join a cyber community of others who are looking to make the most out of their 30 days. Some people make goals to exercise 10, 15 or even 20 days out of the month, Snyder said, staying active through whatever type of physical activity they enjoy most.

“It’s whatever they want to do — bike, jog, swim, yoga,” Snyder said. “Whatever it might be, we want to inspire people to do more during those 30 days to build better habits with exercise.”

This will be the fifth year that Aspire has hosted a fitness challenge, Snyder added, and the idea came about as an addition to the many acts of community service the home real estate company performs annually. Aspire began handing out books to students in 2014 as part of its Home2Read charity, and Snyder and team are also instrumental in events like the Can Tree Breakfast.

“We did start Aspire Home Real Estate with the idea that we could do a variety of different community activities through some of the commission dollars that come to the company,” Snyder said. “The Aspire Fitness Challenge is one of our biggest events that we do as a free gift to the community.”

In addition to the challenge, community members can even more exercise in at the Celebration Walk/Run on March 9, meant to recognize the hard work of those who committed to fitness during the 30 days. The event consists of kids races, a 1.2 mile walk and a 5k run, and all participants receive a t-shirt and goodie bag.

“The energy and excitement around this event every year make for great motivation for the parents and children who participate,” Snyder said. “Now that we’re in our fifth year, families are beginning to make this a tradition.”

Held at Turlock High School on North Berkeley Avenue, registration for the Celebration Walk/Run begins at 8 a.m. The kids races begin at 8:30, while the 1.2 mile walk around Crane Park begins at 8:45. At 9:10, the 5k run down Canal Drive and through local neighborhoods begins.

“It’s fun to see the kids run, and for some, that 1.2-mile walk can be such an accomplishment after 30 days,” Snyder said. “Health is super important, and there are things we need to do as far as watching out diet more, exercising and making healthy choices a priority.”