East Grampians Health Service staff walked more than 16 million steps during the EGHS Staff Step-a-thon – or more than three times across Australia from east to west and almost all the way around the coast.
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Staff became more aware of the amount of activity they were undertaking each day and enjoyed a healthy dose of competitive rivalry as well.
Across April, 80 staff competed, walking 16,929,556 steps.
Mario Santilli and Will Bell were the highest steppers for a single day.
Across the whole month Will Bell was also the highest stepper with a total of 514,301 steps.
In the team section first place went to the kitchen staff team with a total of 1,810,198 steps – second place to the pre-admission team with 1,612,513 steps and third place to team Bossnet with 1,317,595 steps.
“The EGHS Staff Step-a-thon was a huge success, and we were so pleased with how many people participated in this health promotion initiative,” organiser Zosha Jarecki-Warke, the health service’s exercise physiologist, said.
“Many people commented and said how it was a great way to help make them more conscious of just how much activity they are doing, as well as the extra incentive to try and be more active throughout the day.”
The health service’s chief executive Nick Bush also congratulated the staff who took part in the Step-a-thon.
“At EGHS we are very conscious of improving the health of not only our staff, but the community as a whole,” Mr Bush said.
“In addition to initiatives such as the Step-a-thon, the health service has removed all sugar laden drinks from Pyrenees Café and has a ‘traffic light system’ of identifying healthy foods in place at the café as well.”
Ms Jarecki-Warke said people could make their own virtual step challenge, by signing up and racing against themselves or their friends at www.10000steps.org.au/
