The scoreboard will start ticking again with activity minutes posted by thousands of Fit Family Challenge (FFC) participants from across South Carolina starting May 1.
The Upstate, Palmetto, and Low Country regions will once again compete for the “most active” region in the state. In 2015, a total of 1,918,361 activity minutes were logged in South Carolina. The Palmetto region led the way with 707,085 minutes while Upstate and Low Country reached the finish line in a close second and third place with 616,566 and 594,710 minutes. South Carolina families logged an average of 2,895 minutes of activity during the eight-week challenge. If you do the math, that far exceeds the 150 minutes of exercise per week suggested by the American Heart Association. Way to go South Carolina Fit Family Challenge fans!
But the Fit Family Challenge is much more than just a friendly competition among regions and minutes on a scoreboard. It’s about transforming lives.
“The Fit Family Challenge was a great opportunity to do more family exercise outings. It also got our family on a set schedule for exercise, outdoor activities, and healthier eating. I have lost 22 pounds and feel great,” reported the Blausey Family from the Upstate region after the 2015 Challenge.
Over an eight-week period starting May 1, participants in five states (NC, SC, TN, KY, and VA) are invited to set goals, track their physical activity and healthy habits and potentially win prizes along the way. The no-cost program offers incentives with weekly prizes randomly awarded in each region, a midway Gold Star prize, and finally the Grand Prize—an all-expenses paid trip for one lucky family in each state. Participants can start registering as early as April 1 at myfitfamilychallenge.com. Anyone over 18 can register and will be eligible to win prizes.
Challenge participants will be supported with content that both inspires and teaches them about living a healthier lifestyle on myfitfamilychallenge.com, through weekly e-newsletters, and through health care partners in each region. Free fitness and wellness related classes are available to all participants. Spotlight families are chosen in each region through Parent magazines to share their journey during the Challenge in blog posts and articles.
Health care partners play a big role in the success of the program in South Carolina according organizers, who are thankful for the leadership of the South Carolina Hospital Association and the initiative that 19 hospitals and government agencies have taken to share the Challenge with their employees and patients.
According to Jeanette Gulledge, Project Manager, “It’s a testament to the importance of wellness in their workplace and in their community.”
If you are interested in learning more about the Fit Family Challenge, or registering your organization, please contact Jeanette Gulledge at 510.520.8855 by March 15. The Challenge will again offer participating organizations implementation support, collateral materials, and statewide promotional advertising and media support. A custom FFC recap report is available for participating partners upon request. New opportunities to provide healthy lifestyle content will be available this year through myfitfamilychallenge.com. See you at the starting line!
2015 Fit Family Challenge Partners
Abbeville Area Medical Center
Aiken Regional Medical Center
AnMed Health
Baptist Easley
Beaufort Memorial Hospital
Cannon Memorial Hospital
Clarendon Memorial
Consumer’s Choice Health Insurance
Hilton Head Regional Hospital
Medical University of South Carolina
MOVE IT Charleston County
Palmetto Health
Piedmont Medical Center
Providence Hospitals
South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control
South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles
South Carolina Department of Revenue
South Carolina Department of Transportation
Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System
The Fit Family Challenge is sponsored by Coca-Cola.