In an effort to encourage people to be more physically active every day, the Northwestern Health Unit is inviting workplaces to sign up for the “Walking Workplaces Challenge.”
Health educator Siobhan Booth explained yesterday afternoon that the challenge will see workplaces, as well as any interested individuals, wear pedometers each day for the month of September.
They will keep track of the steps they take each day during that month, and at the end of September, turn in forms showing how many steps they took.
They will then return them to the health unit to be eligible for prizes, depending on how many steps they took.
Booth noted the steps tracked are the steps the person has taken all day, not just their time at work.
“They can wear the pedometer all day, and at times when they’re not able to wear the pedometer, on the tracking sheet they’ll be picking up there’s a couple other suggestions as to how they can track steps, like converting certain activities into steps,” she said.
Booth also clarified that steps walked will be averaged out so that a workplace with a great number of workers doesn’t necessarily have an advantage over one with few. Each person’s total steps will be added together and then divided by the number of participants on the team.
Both workplace and individual prizes will be awarded.
Workplace representatives, or individual walkers, must contact the health unit to sign up prior to the Aug. 31 deadline. A team leader/individual can then pick up pedometers and tracking forms from the health unit office.
Booth noted that the contest has only been officially promoted since the start of the week, and already three workplaces have signed up.
She added the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce has e-mailed out notices of the “Walking Workplace Challenge” to its members in an effort to spread the word.
The health unit wants to remind the public that walking is a fun, safe and free activity. As a rule, start walking slowly and gradually increase your steps, speed and distance.
If you do have any health concerns, talk to your doctor before increasing your physical activity levels.
Contact the health unit at 274-9827.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
