It’s a positive reflection on you!
Minutes in Motion is a free six week community physical activity challenge. Track and record your minutes of physical activity, at least 30 minutes a day every day for six weeks – a total of 1,260 minutes. Report your activity at the midpoint and end of the challenge. When you meet the challenge of 30 minutes of physical activity for six weeks, you will be entered into a drawing for prizes.
Gundersen Lutheran physical activity challenge receives state award
The Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) has recognized Gundersen Lutheran’s Minutes in Motion program with the 2009 Global Vision Community Partnership Award. According to WHA, this award is designed to recognize ongoing community initiatives that may be models for addressing community needs for other regions of the state.
To tackle the weighty issue of obesity and lack of physical activity in our area, Gundersen Lutheran in collaboration with community partners, created Minutes in Motion in 2007 as a free six-week community physical activity challenge. Since then, the challenge has been implemented annually. People have the choice to register and participate individually or on a team. Participants are encouraged to engage in 30 minutes of physical activity every day for six weeks (1,260 minutes total).
“Minutes in Motion encourages individuals and teams to incorporate physical activity into their daily lives and have fun while doing so,” explains Sarah Havens, director, Gundersen Lutheran Community and Preventive Care Services. “We hope that it gets people started in a daily routine of physical activity.”
Physical activity can range from running and regular workouts to gardening and raking the lawn. Participants record the number of minutes of daily physical activity achieved and report the minutes at week three and at the end of the program. Participants who complete the program are eligible for cash prizes.
Each year more than 3,000 area residents including large groups from several area businesses have participated in Minutes in Motion, most recently racking up more than 3.9 million minutes of physical activity in 2009.
To be eligible for the award, the project must:
- Be nominated by a WHA member.
- Be an ongoing program, in existence for a minimum of two years.
- Address a documented community health need.
- Use a creative or innovative approach to addressing the need.
- Incorporate a collaborative approach or partnership in development and implementation of the program.
- Produce measurable results.
As part of the award, Gundersen Lutheran received a $2,500 grant and a commemorative plaque.
Minutes in Motion community partners include: WXOW-News 19; Midwest Family Broadcasting, La Crosse; The La Crosse Tribune; La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce; and Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation.
Look for information on next year’s Minutes in Motion challenge in early 2010.