Right Steps Winner Awarded $500
COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO (September 22, 2009) – North Idaho Health Network is proud to announce the winner of the latest Right Steps contest. Tuesday afternoon the network surprised Kootenai Health employee, Della Jenkins, with a check for $500 dollars.
During the Right Steps Contest Jenkins walked more than 639,300 steps, the equivalent of 302 miles in just ten weeks! Jenkins tracked her steps by using a pedometer and online at www.myrightsteps.com.
Jenkins said over the years she had gained some weight and her blood pressure was a bit high so after some encouragement from her physician, she decided to do something about it. In February of 2009 Jenkins’ husband gave her a treadmill and that was the start of her healthier more active life style.
Jenkins began tracking steps at www.myrightsteps.com in April of 2009 and has logged steps totaling more than 640 miles. Since deciding to make health and fitness a priority in her life Jenkins has lost about 20 pounds. Not only has she managed to lose weight but she has also been about the lower her blood pressure.
Jenkins said working for a company that places such a high priority on wellness helped out. Jenkins participated in the Race to Lose Weight Loss Challenge at Kootenai Health, part of the Healthy Directions Worksite Wellness Program, and was looking for a way to drop those last few pounds.
“I mostly walk on the treadmill. I love to listen to music and watch movies and weather is not a deterrent since I am exercising in doors,” says Jenkins.
Joe Morris, CEO of Kootenai Health, congratulated Jenkins on her healthy choices. “Kootenai Health was recently named one of the nation’s Best Places to Work in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare magazine. Our employee wellness program was part of that evaluation,” he said. “Giving our employees the tools to live healthier lives not only makes us a great place to work, it is one of the things that sets Kootenai apart as a great place to receive care as well.”
Kootenai Health also received a gold WELCOA national Well Workplace designation in 2009. The award, given by the Wellness Councils of America (WELCOA), recognizes quality and excellence in worksite health promotion.
The North Idaho Health Network piloted its Healthy Directions program at Kootenai Health in 1999. Healthy Directions is a comprehensive worksite wellness program designed to help organizations reduce health care costs, absenteeism, increase employee productivity, and promote employee health and wellness
Right Steps is a Healthy Directions activity challenge, designed to inspire and motivate members of the community to live a more active lifestyle. Participants log steps online at www.MyRightSteps.com and in return get their name entered into a drawing for every 60,000 steps. Participants can use a pedometer to track their steps or they can convert their miles or minutes of activity into steps using a conversion chart found on the website. There are four contests throughout the year where participants have the chance to win $500 dollars. At the end of the year there is a grand prize drawing where one person will win up to $3000 dollars worth of prizes. Past winners have won a walking trip to Europe, and a trip to Disney World.
The next Right Steps Contests starts October 1st and runs through December 10th, 2009. The contest is open to all community members. People can register at www.Myrightsteps.com.
