CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Putnam-based wellness initiative group is doing its part to battle cancer with the help of a grant from the Mountains of Hope West Virginia Cancer Prevention Coalition.

The coalition gave the Putnam on Wellness group $1,250 to create and promote a program to participate in the President's Physical Fitness Challenge. The long-term goal of the program is to encourage people to become more physically active in order to prevent cancers caused by living sedentary lifestyles, such as colon cancer.

The President's Challenge group is called Putnam Up and Moving, and participants are tasked with exercising for at least 30 minutes a day.

Putnam County is above the national average in lung and colon cancer among females, and level with the national average in female breast cancer and male colon cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. The institute reports that Putnam County suffers 111 cancer deaths per year. West Virginia has the fifth highest cancer death rate in the nation, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Kentucky has the highest.

"We know that physical activity prevents cancer," said Michelle Baranaskas, spokeswoman for Putnam Up and Moving. "We know that it can affect cancer incidents."

Putnam Up and Moving officially kicked off in April. Baranaskas said she has wanted to start the program for several years but has lacked the funds for proper promotion. Along with the grant from the state cancer coalition, Teays Valley Physical Therapy Center, Putnam County Parks and Recreation, and Putnam County Schools are participating sponsors.

So far, only 46 county residents have joined the group. Baranaskas hopes to have 500 join by the end of the month.

"It's frustrating, but it is the first time we've done it," she said.

In order to receive recognition for their 30 minutes of physical fitness, participants must log their activities under a point system using the President's Challenge website. After completing a certain number of fitness hours, or accruing a certain number of points, participants are eligible for awards that they can purchase themselves through an online store.

Some of the approved presidential fitness challenge activities include normal exercises like walking and running, and other more exciting endeavors like ski jumping and skydiving.

"The person definitely has to be internally motivated," Baranaskas said.

Those interested in joining Putnam Up and Moving are asked to visit http://www.presidentschallenge.org/login/register_individual.aspx, enter the group ID number 90054 and enter the name Putnam Up and Moving in the box provided.