Kansas West wins walking challenge
Written: 12/16/2009
By Susan Harvey
Special contributor
WICHITA—The Kansas West Conference participants beat the Kansas East participants in the first annual walking challenge. The challenge started July 1. After the first six-week leg, which ended Aug. 12, Kansas West was ahead by a narrow margin. They had 121 walkers signed up with 19,675,814 steps or 9,837 miles. Kansas East had 142 walkers with 19,262,890 steps or 9,631 miles. Steps and mileage were tracked on the “America on the Move” Web site.
However, on Sept. 1, “America on the Move” launched a new Web site, which had not been anticipated. All groups and group records disappeared, along with the data. New groups were created, but, unfortunately, most walkers did not get signed up for the new groups. Steps were not credited to the new groups until individuals joined the new groups.
The results as of Nov. 1 favored Kansas West by almost a 3-to-1 margin. However, more people were walking than were credited.
Kansas East had nine participants with 1,270,512 steps or 635 miles.
Kansas West had 15 participants with 3,690,756 steps or 1,845 miles.
The award banner and church certificates will be awarded at the 2010 Kansas West Annual Conference in Salina.
A new walking challenge will be launched at the 2010 annual conference sessions. The challenge will run 11 months.
Kansas West will kick off their portion of the challenge May 28 with the Board of Laity’s “Fun Run” and will end April 28, 2011.
Kansas East will begin June 10 with the “Bishop’s Body, Mind, Spirit Walk” and will end May 10, 2011. The results will be tallied, the winner announced and the prize awarded at the appropriate 2011 Annual Conference.
A more “user friendly” method to sign up and record progress is being researched, and more information will be forthcoming.
The Health and Wellness Committee members encourage everyone to join the walking challenge.
Susan Harvey is co-chairperson of the Kansas Area Health and Wellness Committee.