To the editor:
The 100 Miles in 100 Days Challenge from Cary Medical Center’s Healthy You program has officially come to an end, but the 338 people people who registered for the Challenge — from Fort Kent to Eliot — have now begun to establish a habit of walking that can easily be continued.
Throughout the 100 Day Challenge, incentive prizes were awarded to keep participants engaged and motivated. The first 100 registrants all received a 100 Miles in 100 Days starter pack which included a T-shirt and pedometer to get the Challenge off on the right foot.
In August, two tickets to the Rascal Flatts concert were awarded to early registrant Sandra Plourde of Frenchville. Additionally, during each week of the Challenge, a T-shirt prize was awarded through a random drawing of all registered participants to date.
At the end of the Challenge, a drawing was conducted from all participants for a FitBit and the prize was awarded to Caribou’s Austin Bleess. Everyone who logged 100 miles or more during the 100 Day Challenge was eligible for the grand prize drawing and there were 133 registered participants who met or exceeded that goal. The grand prize $500 Wal-Mart gift card winner was Becky Millett of Mapleton, who was presented with the prize in early November.
Aside from the great prizes that were awarded, walking is its own reward as many of the Challenge’s participants learned. Here are just a few of the great benefits of walking regularly:
– Walking helps prevent heart disease and stroke by improving cholesterol levels, blood flow and heart function.
– Walking helps reduce blood pressure and prevent adult-onset diabetes by reducing body fat.
– Walking prevents bone loss and osteoporosis by promoting bone formation.
Collectively, the participants in the 100 Miles in 100 Days Challenge logged an astounding 36,941 miles! Another notable achievement was the highest mileage by Carol Scalora of Caribou, who logged 749 miles — amazing!
We would like to thank all of the participants for making the 100 Miles in 100 Days Challenge such a success — for sharing your stories and pictures and for taking the time to make walking a priority in your life. We are grateful to hear all the positive changes that many of you have experienced as a result of this Challenge. Our thanks also go out to the official sponsors of the 100 Miles in 100 Days Challenge who helped make it possible: Cary Medical Center, Norstate Federal Credit Union, The County Federal Credit Union and Townsquare Media.
