‘Move It’ challenge brings cash to schools
District 1 lawmakers won $5,000 for their local schools today, as part of Regence BlueShield of Idaho's fifth annual "Move It" competition, which pits lawmakers against each other by district to see who can take the most steps in a four-week walking challenge, as measured by pedometers. District 25 came in second, and District 17 third. The District 1 team consisted of Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, and Reps. George Eskridge, R-Dover, and Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake; the program is aimed at promoting healthy behaviors and physical activity to combat child obesity. Click below to read the full announcement from Regence BlueShield.
Regence BlueShield of Idaho News Release
March 12, 2010
For immediate release
Idaho legislators earn $10,000 for selected schools through Regence walking challenge
BOISE – Selected schools in Idaho will receive $10,000 for health-related activities from Regence BlueShield of Idaho on behalf of Idaho legislators who placed among the top three teams in a recent walking challenge.
The fifth edition of Move It recently concluded and participating legislators walked more than 7.6 million steps. During the four-week competition, legislators wore Regence-issued pedometers and recorded the number of steps they took during that period.
The District 1 team of Sen. Shawn Keough (R-Sandpoint) and Reps. Eric Anderson (R-Priest Lake) and George Eskridge (R-Dover) won this year’s title just as they did in 2008. This year, the team took 1,510,023 steps.
Everyone’s step is different, but it is estimated that 2,000 steps equals a mile so the winning team walked about 755 miles. Overall, participating legislators walked 7,607,547 steps or about 3,804 miles.
Placing second was the District 25 team of Sen. Michelle Stennett (D-Ketchum) and Reps. Wendy Jaquet (D-Ketchum) and Donna Pence (D-Gooding) with 1,433,343 steps, and in third was the District 17 team of Sen. Elliott Werk (D-Boise) and Reps. Bill Killen (D-Boise) and Sue Chew (D-Boise) with 949,891 steps.
Regence will donate $5,000 to the schools of choice of the District 1 winners, $3,000 to the schools of choice of the District 25 runners-up and $2,000 to the schools of choice of the third-place District 17 team. The schools will be selected by the legislators later this month.
“By participating in programs like the Move It competition, our state leaders encourage healthier behaviors for our young people,” said Scott Kreiling, President of Regence BlueShield of Idaho. “We would like to thank members of the Idaho legislature for continuing to help us promote this healthy competition.”
Regence began the program because of the rising rate of childhood obesity. The U.S. Surgeon General reports that approximately one third of all adolescents do not get the recommended amount of physical activity. Studies suggest that time spent watching television, playing video games and using computer has contributed to this decrease in physical activity.
