It’s a very long walk from New York to New Orleans — 900 nautical miles, in fact — but 27 PBMC Health employees were up to the task. They didn’t actually walk to the Big Easy, but took enough steps over a six-month period to get them thee. The hospital staffers completed the Walk to New Orleans wellness challenge, walking an average of 10,000 steps a day for six months, from Jan. 15 to July 15.
The 27 who made it were among 67 active participants in the challenge, logging a minimum of 1,800,000 steps to meet the 900-mile goal. They used pedometers and smart phones to track their steps, said Darrien Garay, PBMC Health’s grants coordinator, who participated in the challenge but fell short of the 900-mile goal. “It’s not that easy, so having 27 people make it is quite impressive.”
The employees who met the goal were rewarded with a chance to win 10 cash prizes and a grand prize trip for two to New Orleans.
The first person to reach New Orleans was Carolyn Sidor, who walked the most steps of all participants, a total of 4,448,500 — or 2,224 miles, which is all the way to Phoenix, Arizona. In second place was Karma Marshall, who walked 3,714,200 steps, about 1,857 miles — the equivalent of walking to Nicaragua.
The grand prize winner of the trip to New Orleans was Wendy Dolan, a nurse in the skilled nursing facility. No, she won’t have to walk there. The prize includes air fare and a three-day, two-night stay for Dolan and a guest. (She’ll bring her husband, she said.) The 48-year-old grandmother said she wanted to get healthier in 2015, bought herself a FitBit and began walking. She averages 10,000 to 20,000 steps per day, she said.
This is the second employee wellness challenge conducted by the hospital, said Angela Avvento, employee health services coordinator. The staff participated in a “biggest winner” challenge this winter, in partnership with Tanger Outlets.
PBMC engaged V Well Health to provide on-site health and wellness training seminars for employees, Monica Chestnut Rauls, PBMC vice president for human resources said. Avvento worked with V Well to develop the challenges. A third is planned this fall.
The hospital held a drawing for the prizes Thursday afternoon in the main lobby. The prizes were funded by money raised by the PBMC Health team members who ran the NYC Marathon last year.
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