Annual wellness initiative begins Wednesday

Published 10:11 am Tuesday, March 6, 2018

The 2018 Clark County Wellness Challenge may be a great first step to shedding off that winter weight.

The challenge, sponsored by the Clark County Activity Coalition, begins on March 7 and will run until May 16. The Clark County Wellness Challenge is a 10-week countywide event meant to encourage physical wellness and health education in Clark County. Residents ages 12 and over of Clark and surrounding counties are invited to attend, according to its website.

Lewis said the goal of the challenge is to help get people started on healthy choices.

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“It’s a very inexpensive way to sample everything that Clark County has to offer,” Lewis said.

Included with the program are group fitness classes at College Park gym, free classes at The OM Place, CrossFit Strode Station, The Barre: A Fitness Boutique; discount punch cards at Cairn Coffee House and Gaunce’s Deli and Cafe and more, Lewis said.

Lewis said last year, there was 900 participants last year, and is expecting this year to be about the same or more. The program has been around for about eight years.

The cost to register is only $12 for the entire 10-week program, and the proceeds are donated to the Clark County Activity Coalition. Lewis said the idea is to make fitness affordable, just going to one class gets your money’s worth.

“I grew up poor too,” Lewis said. “A lot of people can’t afford gym memberships…It’s hard in this town. Healthy food costs more money. It’s easier for a family of 5 to get frozen pizzas than it is to get fruit. It’s unfortunate that’s the nature of people of living today.”

Those interested can register online or in person.

Participants who register online will still need to visit one of the weigh-in locations on March 7 or March 14 to receive a participant packet and card and weigh in. Weigh-in locations include Winchester Parks and Recreation, Clark County Health Department, Clark Clinic B – Wellness Center – Suite 155 at Clark Regional Medical Center. Weigh-ins will be every Wednesday only throughout the challenge. However, people aren’t required to weigh in, but if they choose not to, then they won’t be eligible for prizes, Lewis said.

Clark County Activity Coalition will award prizes to the top three male and female participants who have lost the most significant percentage of body weight. To calculate percentage lost, subtract your final weight from your beginning weight, and divide that number by your beginning weight, and multiply by 100, according to the website.

Participants become eligible for prizes if they weigh in 5 times and attend five different classes. However, past participants who have won a previous Wellness Challenge may not earn awards a second time. Participants must be eligible and present to win additional prizes awarded at the challenge finale May 19.

Lewis said they have had several people in the past who have lost over 100 lbs.

Fifty dollar Wellness memberships will also be available at registration and for the duration of the challenge at the front desk of Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation, and will expire on May 16.

About Lashana Harney

Lashana Harney is a reporter for The Winchester Sun. Her beats include schools and education, business and commerce, Winchester Municipal Utilities and other news. To contact her, email lashana.harney@winchestersun.com or call 859-759-0015.

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