Government workers step up for good health
Deputy Governor Franz Manderson (front, centre) with participants in the pedometer challenge
(CNS Local Life): In just 21 days, 1,209 people from 60 teams competed in the “Every Step Counts” pedometer challenge, exercising their way to a collective 179 million steps. The 920 civil servants who participated recorded 141,315,713 steps, with the remaining 289 people drawn from statutory authorities and government companies. Last year, 505 steppers and 36 teams took part in the challenge. The women took the lead this year with 856 participants.
Coordinated by the pedometer challenge committee (PCC), under the wellness committee, the challenge kicked off 16 January. Team members wore pedometers for three weeks to record each step they took and logged their activity on a daily basis on the web portal CaymanActive, stated a government press release.
An award ceremony on Friday, 10 February capped the almost month-long push for all employees to lead healthier lives.
The top three women were Nicole Emmanuel Jones (1,563,713 steps); Marion Webster (1,508,984); and Patrice Hanson (1,241,959). The top men were Paul Puckerin (1,096,024); Simon Spiers (905,545); and Reinaldo Fletcher (881,096).
During the prize-giving ceremony Deputy Governor Franz Manderson thanked all the participants and applauded their efforts.
“I would like to congratulate everyone on a successful pedometer challenge,” he said. “The fact that some 920 civil servants walked 141,315,713 steps is truly amazing and inspiring, and I am very proud of your dedication and commitment to living a healthier lifestyle.”
Winston Sobers, PCC chairman and founder of the challenge, thanked the PCC team, wellness committee and participants. “The objective of this challenge was to get people moving, get them out of their comfort zone and raise awareness about healthy lifestyle choices,” he said. “So many participants now know the health benefits one can experience through more consistent exercise.”
Category: Civil Service, Walking
