Team Pirates Pirates from Bluffton Local Schools Wins the Spring Challenge
Bluffton Local Schools earned the win for Health Action Council’s Healthy Kids Spring 2023 Challenge. Achieving 640,130 average total steps and earning the reign as Top Steppers, team members Ryan Dunlap, Jaime Combs, Missy Smith, and Heidi Steiner will receive $1,500 towards health improvement for their school.
The Healthy Kids Spring Step It Up Challenge is a no-cost step program that promotes overall health and well-being for Ohio based schools and the community. Teams consist of school administration, staff, and parents, with a minimum of three participants with the goal of modeling healthy habits, showing leadership and winning money!
The challenge consisted of 470 participants and 48 teams. These wellness warriors totaled 94,001,295 steps. Participants found this challenge rewarding and a way to jumpstart moving on a regular basis and reinforce healthy habits.
“This challenge fosters team building, being an active role model, and setting an example for healthy habits,” said Patty Starr, President & CEO of Health Action Council. “Setting good examples about health and wellness, is a gift of self-care and a stellar example for children to follow.”
OHSAA district board region winners are:
Northeast: Laoshi'sminions from Ravenna local schools, with 619,499 average total steps
Northwest: Ashland Arrows from Ashland City Schools, 604,969 average total steps
Southeast: Red Hot Chili Steppers from Alexander Local Schools, with 455,522 average total steps
East: Minerva Lions from Minerva Local Schools, with 229,562 average total steps
Southwest: LEAP Academy from Cincinnati, with 221,076 average total steps
Central: HSA Hawks from Horizon School Academy in Columbus, with 187,291 average total steps
These schools each won $1,000 towards health improvement for achieving the most steps in their OHSAA district board regions.
While everyone benefited from the challenge, the weekly mini challenge winners included:
- Chad Marzec from Liberty-Benton: Won a Fitbit Charge 4 and Step It Up t-shirt for achieving over 10,000 steps.
- Jasilyn Albert from Madison Schools: Won a $10 Starbucks gift card for sharing how she gets her steps - "I travel between 4 schools, so I usually get a lot of steps that way. I’ve also been walking in the park now that the weather is getting nicer.”
- Debbie Imler from Minerva Local Schools: Won a $10 Target gift card for sharing how she gets her steps - "I am walking at school and staying late at school because I am directing our school musical. So I am there longer than normal, walking back and forth from the back of the auditoria and the stage."
- Andrea Sponseller from Alliance City Schools: Won a $15 DoorDash gift card and swag pack for achieving over 60 active minutes.
- Lauren Barkliano from Copley High School won a $10 Starbucks gift card for completing the stretching mini challenge.
- Vince Halliday from Lima City Schools: Won a Fitbit Charge 4 for achieving 10,000 steps each day in the weekend mini challenge.
- Danette Brandt from Riverside Local Schools: Won a $15 Home Depot gift card for sharing her favorite healthy spring recipe.
“It’s amazing how much fun fitness and healthy habits can be when teams come together, encourage each other, and establish a healthier lifestyle,” said Starr. “We enjoy seeing people achieve their goals, establish healthier habits, and have fun along the way.”
Save the date for our Fall Healthy Kids Challenge October 9 – November 5, 2023! Interested in joining? Contact Noelle Reinhart at [email protected].
About Health Action Council
Health Action Council is a not-for-profit 501(c)(6) organization representing mid and large-size employers that enhances human and economic health through thought leadership, innovative services, and collaboration. It provides value to its members by facilitating projects that improve the quality and moderate the cost of healthcare purchased by its members for their employees, dependents, and retirees. Health Action Council also collaborates with key stakeholders - health plans, physicians, hospitals, and the pharmaceutical industry - to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare in the community.