Pedometer Challenge Winners
Senator Ginny Burdick (D-District 18) walked her way to the winning spot in Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon’s “Legislators on the Move” contest held during the 2005 Oregon State Legislative Session. Senator Burdick walked 1,136,224 steps during the session and earned a check for $5,000 from Regence to be donated to Metzger Elementary School for a health-related program.
Senator Burdick’s strategy included logging more than 20 miles over the weekends, which helped her outpace the second place winner, Representative Mark Hass (D-District 27). Haas logged 1,061,239 steps while walking and running as part of his marathon training program. He has asked Regence to donate $2,500 to Raleigh Hills Elementary School. Larry Galizio took third place, with a total of 826,376 steps. He will donate $1,000 to Durham Elementary School. The prize money from Regence can be used by the schools for any health-related project.
“I’m very proud to be a winning Legislator on the Move and to demonstrate how easy it is to begin an exercise routine with something as simple as walking,” said Senator Burdick. “I’m especially excited to donate the winnings to my local community, where it will help our community’s children get started on their own successful path to good health.”
Legislators on the Move was designed to introduce awareness, activity and a little friendly competition into the overall conversation about health. To participate, legislators were asked to wear a pedometer and record the number of steps they take for eight weeks during the 2005 legislative session. The competition concluded on April 12.
Three legislators put on their walking shoes and rose to the challenge, earning $5,000, $2,500 or $1,000 depending on their finishing place, for a school of their choice from their legislative district.
Nearly 30 percent of the Oregon Legislature answered the call, logging a total of nine million steps during the eight-week long program.