STARTING your day the healthy way was the theme of Friday morning in Rosalind Park.
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Free fresh fruit stands, exercise stations and equipment lined the lawns of the park as part of the Hearty Breakfast and Run.
The brisk early morning might have kept a few people away, but the message of eating, exercising and overall living well won out on the day.
Organiser Jye Sandiford said he wanted the morning event to demonstrate how a little exercise could go a long way.
"Doing half an hour of exercise every day is great for a person's health. It doesn't have to be strenuous exercise, just walking is a great start," he said.
"Having a good breakfast is also one of the most important things.
"This morning is all about raising awareness."
Mr Sandiford also held the event to raise funds and awareness for the Heart Foundation, hoping to attract people through inclusive exercise activities.
The idea centered on statistics that showed more than 60 per cent of adults in Bendigo are not getting enough exercise and 30 per cent are obese.
Mr Sandiford said the event was only testing the water at this stage, and he would take a few lessons away from the day. He said he wanted to create an annual morning fitness event in the park.
"Next time I think I would look to have it on a weekend," he said.
Several local groups and organisations attended the event to show their support for healthy living.
Heart Foundation Victoria fundraising director Rob Daly said daily exercise did not have to be a daunting task.
"It's not necessarily about running marathons," he said.
Establishing more walking groups in Bendigo was one of the main aims of the Heart Foundation - a goal Mr Sandiford was happy to support.
He said people in Bendigo just needed to register their group on the Heart Foundation website, allowing others in their local area to find their group and get in touch.
Visit heartfoundation.org.au to start a walking group.
