Healthy competition

General Article
January 22, 2004

HR's Healthy Challenge deadline is Jan. 23

Suzanne Lentz, administrative coordinator for the Breast Cancer Research Program, demonstrates her competitive boomerang-throwing technique. Her fitness goal for the Healthy Challenge is to complete a round of "fast catch"-throwing and catching the boomerang five times-in under 30 seconds. photo by Todd McNaught

By BARBARA BERG

If one of your resolutions for the new year is to make fitness and good nutrition a part of your daily routine, sign up for the Fred Hutchison/ Alliance Healthy Challenge 2004 by tomorrow.

Those who participate in the 12-week program, which runs from Jan. 26 through April 18, join a four-member team that works together to improve their health.

Team members receive points for engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviors, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator and eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Prizes go to teams with the highest final score.

Enhancements to challange

Although similar to last year's successful program, the 2004 challenge includes a few changes:

• A limit to the number of points that can be received for exercise to allow participants a day of rest each week.
• Participants can receive points for proper daily hydration.
• Participants can earn maximum points by attending only four of the eight Healthy Challenge special events.
• Participants are asked to set a measurable personal fitness goal.

The program does more than provide staff with a fun way to feel better about their health. It supports Fred Hutchinson's research focus and in the long term, could help to save money for the center, said Jonathan Sheppard, compensation and benefits manager.

"The center's mission is dedicated to improving human health, and we conduct numerous studies about the disease-prevention benefits of exercise and a healthy diet," Sheppard said. "This is one way that we can promote this message to our employees."

The center spends over $10 million each year on health-care-related expenses for employees, a figure that is rising rapidly, Sheppard said.

"Adopting a healthy lifestyle, which may decrease the need for medical care, is one way to help control those costs," he said.

Throughout the 12-week period, the center will offer education sessions open to all employees on exercise and nutrition. Challenge participants who attend the events earn points.

To register, learn more about the program and its rules or to find a team to join, visit the Health Challenge Web site at www.fhcrc.org/admin/hr/ben/challenge.xml or call 206-667-5275.

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