Melissa’s Milers from City of Toledo took second; while Fall Fam Fun from JJ Suter took third!

“School of Walk” from Dayton Children’s Hospital won the Fall Step It Up Challenge. The winning team consisted of Amanda Skaggs, Laura Jorg, and Karen Worsham, with a stunning 525,073 average total steps and 1,575,221 total steps. The grand prize winners receive a healthy lunch for their team and a $300 donation in their name to either a local school garden project or Ronald McDonald House Charity.

The theme of the challenge was “Groove Your Way to Improved Health.” Throughout this challenge as participants stepped, they unlocked virtual milestones that explored the top music hits throughout the decades to keep them moving. Participants also practiced healthy habits such as staying hydrated and monitoring blood pressure.

“This challenge not only encouraged and established healthy habits such as moving and staying hydrated, but added in the benefits of listening to music,” said Patty Starr, President & CEO of Health Action Council. “Listening to music has been shown to have positive effects on the mind and body such as boosted mood, increased heart rate, and improved performance while exercising.”

Second place was earned by “Melissa’s Milers” from City of Toledo, amassing 481,761 average total steps and achieving a total of 1,445,284 steps. The power trio team included Don Czerniak, Dan Gerken, and Melissa Masztak. The team earned a healthy lunch and a $200 donation in their name to either a local school garden project or Ronald McDonald House Charity.

Third place winners were “Fall Fam Fun” from JJSuter, LLC., with 433,353 average total steps and 1,733,414 total steps. Healthy team members included Maria Suter, Jacob Suter, Joanna Rimmer, and Joyce Suter, and won Step It Up swag for their entire team.

This challenge consisted of a record-breaking 961 total participants, 90 teams, 217,082,556 total steps, with an individual daily average of 8,068 steps. In addition to prizes, the group unlocked a $500 donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charities Philadelphia Region.

“A healthy workplace combines the betterment of the company, while factoring in the physical and mental health and wellness of the employees,” said Starr. “These challenges leave employees feeling healthier, happier and with the mindset to encourage others to feel welcome and join in.”

3 individuals from the Top 15 Steppers were entered in a drawing and randomly selected to win new Fitbits:

• Tyler Reynolds from Wesley Ridge – 1,367,031 total steps
• Celeste Felix from Toledo Lucas County Public Library – 1,078,183 total steps
• Rob Bottiggi from Painesville City Schools – 669,351 total steps

Mini Challenge winners were:

• Jodie Dravenstott from Ashland University won a Fitbit for having over 10,000 steps.
  Zachary Ross from Dayton Children's Residents won a $20 Chipotle gift card for having over 60 active minutes.
• Caitlin Ritter from Energizer won a $25 Amazon gift card for posting in the challenge chat her favorite song.
• Endora Pan from Hitachi Solutions won a $15 Panera gift card for completing the hydration mini challenge and drinking at least 8 cups of water per day.
• Kelly Sradeja from Toledo Lucas County Public Library stepped at least 10,000 steps Friday through Sunday for a weekend mini challenge and won a $25 Amazon gift card and Step It Up swag bundle.
• Steven LaCorte from Painesville won a $25 Chipotle gift card for completing a blood pressure mini challenge.
• Carly Clapp from Hitachi Solutions won a $15 DoorDash gift card for commenting how she is getting her steps in on our Facebook group page.
• Jenna Schaefer from OHSAA won a $20 Starbucks gift card and Step It Up t-shirt for having over 60 active minutes.
• Laurie Appel from Energizer won a $25 Dick’s Sporting Goods gift card for participating in our Halloween costume mini challenge.
• Antonio Glass from Dayton Children’s Hospital won a $20 Amazon gift card for having over 10,000 steps.

Gear up for our 2024 Spring Step It Up Challenge from March 25 – April 21, 2024. For additional questions, please contact Noelle Reinhart at [email protected]

About the Health Action Council Step It Up Challenge
The Health Action Council Step It Up Challenge is a no-cost, four-week step program that promotes overall health for the workplace and community. The process is simple. Register a team made up of employees, colleagues, customers, family, and friends. Teams must have at least three participants.

Enjoy some friendly competition this spring with team-based and individual-based challenges. Compete in various weekly mini challenges along the way and win valuable prizes such as gift cards, Fitbits, and swag.

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.