More than 700 expected to get Fit With 5
Posted on Thursday, March 27, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/60106/
ROGERS Four years ago, the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce came up with the idea for the Fit With 5 Worksite Challenge as a way to promote healthier lifestyles among not only Rogers employees, but adults across northwest Arkansas. The program immediately took off and is expected to draw a record 700 participants this year.
Each year, companies, schools and other organizations across the region the bulk of which come from Benton County form teams of five to compete in the Fit With 5 Worksite Challenge. And from there, its all about getting healthier in fives.
Everything is in fives, said Megan Cuddy, program coordinator with the Rogers-Lowell Chamber. Teams earn points for eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, working out for 30 minutes at least five times per week and so on. Teams can even earn extra credit points for going above and beyond expectations.
More than 500 employees across the region participated in the challenge last year, and Cuddy said organizers expect that number to jump to more than 700 this time around. The program runs for a period of five weeks, and points are tabulated in the end to determine a champion. Teams are provided with passes to area gyms and fitness centers for the length of the program, and the winning teams receive free 12-month memberships to a local gym.
Registration for the fourth annual FIT With 5 Worksite Challenge is due Saturday. The program begins April 7 and continues through May 11. For more information on the program or to get registration forms, call Cuddy at 619-3188 or go to www. rogerslowell. com.
There are always teams from all over, Cuddy said. FM Corp. almost always has the most teams, and there are a lot of schools where teachers form teams and get involved. The idea is to adapt a healthier lifestyle, get in a routine and hopefully maintain that throughout the year.
The program is free and open to adults. All participants receive a gym bag, passes to local gyms, bottled water from Culligan and other gifts. The Fit With 5 Worksite Challenge is sponsored through a grant from the Arkansas Department of Health.