BAY MINETTE —Senior citizens across the country, including many here in Bay Minette, will "get going (and) get fit" Wednesday as part of the 17th Annual National Senior Health and Fitness Day.

Locally, the North Baldwin Infirmary Wellness Center is promoting its Healthways SilverSneakers Fitness Program, a program designed to "help healthy individuals stay healthy, mitigate and slow the progression of disease associated with family or lifestyle risk factors and promote the best possible health for those already affected by disease," Charlette Murphy, marketing and public relations coordinator for NBI, said.

Murphy said the center on Wednesday will waive enrollment fees for people 55 and older who wish to join the program.

Though there is a fee, in some instances Medicare or other insurance may pay for the program.

Free to local seniors is the exercise program sponsored by the Bay Minette Area Senior Center. Classes are held Monday and Thursday at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Bay Minette.

Patricia Henze, National Senior Health and Fitness Day program manager, said the day is aimed at raising awareness of the benefits of exercise and fitness, particularly for older adults, and encourages them to get moving.

"Older adults at all levels of physical fitness are encouraged to participate in National Senior Health and Fitness Day,” she said. “Our goals for Senior Day are to make exercise fun, to increase awareness of the benefits of a regular exercise program for older adults and to encourage all older adults to take advantage of the many health and fitness programs offered in their communities.”