The Regional Healthcare Foundation will sponsor the Team Fitness Challenge for the 13th straight year. The challenge began in 2007 when the staff at the Regional Healthcare Foundation started noticing a rise in diabetes.
"We were noticing the rise in diabetes in the community," said LeVeda Scates. "The rise was in all age groups."
Scates is the patient advocate coordinator for the Prescription Drug Assistance Program. It was through the prescription program the rise in diabetes was noticed.
The staff wanted to come up with a way to bring awareness to the public of this rising problem. The fitness challenge was born.
The staff educates participants by providing information emphasizing the importance of a nutritious diet and exercise. The material provided also entails how important this is to maintaining a healthy blood sugar level, blood pressure and weight.
The foundation does not promote any specific weight loss program, only the value of proper diet and exercise.
Scates noted some people find value in the accountability of the challenge. This is done through weekly weigh-ins and team support.
Gifts, such as cutting boards and other items, are given to all participants and cash prizes are awarded to the team and individual who achieves the greatest percentage of weight loss.
First place team - $1,000
Second place team - $500
Third place team - $250
Individual weight loss winner - $250
Teams must sign up on Jan. 9, 16 or 23 and the event will run until April 25. Teams will consist of three people and individuals who do not have a team may sign up. Individuals will be combined into teams of three. Teams must have their team name chosen prior to the time they sign up.
Participants will be required to weigh-in each Wednesday between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Blood pressure will be checked at the beginning and end of the challenge for comparison.
Participants will be entered in a weekly drawing provided their weight has decreased from the previous week.
Walking is a low impact form of exercise most people are able to perform. The Bearcat Event Center has an indoor walking track open Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Scates said people are fired up to lose weight after enjoying the holidays and all the treats they offer. She also said the fitness challenge has been a life-changing experience for some people. People getting healthier is what the challenge is all about.