April 17, 2008 issue
Second Annual Win with Walk with
Spirit April 1 To June 23
Story by Garrett Simmons
Appalachian Regional Healthcare System is challenging High Country citizens to step up. Last year, the ARHS won the national healthcare system competition, Win with Walk with Spirit. Those who competed walked 191 million steps, an amount that averages out to approximately 95,500 miles.
This year, in hopes of claiming the title again, the ARHS has partnered with the Be Active Appalachian Partnership and Watauga County Healthy Carolinians to host a local competition in coordination with the national Win with Walk with Spirit.
On April 1, registered teams, including several local businesses, began logging their steps using pedometers. On June 23 when the competition ends, teams will total their steps for a chance to win prizes from the ARHS and Be Active Partnership.
The business that takes the highest number of steps in relation to its number of employees will receive breakfast for up to 50 employees and a first place trophy. The top 10 individual winners will be given Be Active gym bags.
So far, registered teams include Boone Chamber of Commerce (first team to register) High Country Bank (most participants), United Community Bank, Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff, Hollar and Greene, Restoration House, Watauga County Schools administration and Watauga Opportunities.
Leslie Roberts, employee wellness coordinator for ARHS, said the true intent of the competition is to promote community wellness and a healthy lifestyle. “More important than the prizes are the physical, social and psychological benefits,” she said. “Friendly competition is a way of engaging people to move more. It is a great time to meet with friends and to be more active.”
Although health sources differ in their recommended number of daily steps, Roberts said in general most people in the region do not get enough exercise. “We’re looking for 30 to 45 minutes of physical activity every day,” she said. “For most people this just isn’t the case.”
Another benefit of participation, according to Roberts, is the chance to track your progress with the pedometer. Pedometers are lightweight devices that attach to the waistband and register each step a person takes over the course of a day. You can purchase locally at retail stores or online at the Be Active Partnership website, www.BeActiveNC.org.
Pedometers have a variety of accessory options, but Roberts recommended the simplest option for the competition. “Just by keeping track of their daily steps, people can monitor their overall health,” she said. “Seeing their activity level as a number can motivate people to do more.”
Although the local competition began April 1, you can sign up now because only steps registered between April 15 and June 23 will be counted in the national Win with Walk with Spirit. Participants should register their steps at www.apprhs.org/walk. First-time registrants will need to create an account. Select Appalachian Regional Healthcare as the Spirit health system and enter your individual or business name.
For more info, contact the ARHS at 828-262-4100 or click to www.apprhs.org/walk.
Community Interest
News & Notes
Events
Arts & Entertainment
