For the second year in a row, the beach cities placed first in a nationwide challenge to walk 70,000 steps in seven days. The Steppin’ Out challenge is issued each year by the Medical Fitness Association. Locally, it has been organized by the Beach Cities Health District (BCHD). Skechers Shape-ups was this year’s beach cities sponsor.
Between April 19 and April 25, more than 5,500 people recorded walking 317,151,149 steps. The beach cities placed first in 2009 with 210,808,388 steps by 3,485 participants. The 2010 numbers were up 50 percent.
“Everywhere I looked there were people wearing pedometers, walking to school or work and trying to find ways to get a few more steps. Our community takes a lot of pride in being a healthy place to live and each first place finish validates that even more,” said BCHD CEO Susan Burden.
Sixty-five communities across the country participated in this year’s Medical Fitness Association’s weeklong national walking challenge.
Skechers Shape-ups’ sponsorship enabled nearly 3,500 elementary students in the BCHD LiveWell Kids childhood obesity-prevention program to receive a pedometer and compete at no charge. LiveWell Kids students in Redondo Beach elementary schools accounted for more than 192,575,416 steps, and students from other beach cities schools contributed another 88,530,690 steps.
“There’s nothing more important than health,” said Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers, “and working with BCHD was a great way for Skechers to be part of improving it in our community. Many of our families, employees and friends participated in Steppin’ Out, and we loved hearing that our Shape-ups helped motivate people to get more steps.”
Top walkers in the different categories will receive a free pair of Skechers’ Shape-ups resistance trainers’ shoes.
Visit www.bchd.org or call (310) 374-3426 for more information. ER
Community Top Steppers
Child: Mario Peralta, 5th grade at Tulita Elementary School, 290,019 steps.
Adult: Rachel Ragona, Center for Health and Fitness trainer, 222,452 steps
Civic Group Top Steppers
Redondo Beach Rotary, 322,330 steps
Chamber of Commerce: Redondo Beach Chamber, 601,511 steps
School Board: Manhattan Beach, 438,972 steps
City Council: Redondo Beach City Council, 232,221 steps
School Top Steppers
Elementary: Alta Vista, RBUSD, 39,969,631 steps
Middle School: Parras, RBUSD, 12,424,812 steps
High School: Redondo Union, RBUSD, 53,000,000 steps
