The Children’s Center of Wilkes claims the title of most steps walked in the Get Up Get Moving Campaign

The Get Up Get Moving campaign, offered by the Wilkes Community Partnership for Children and funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, has ended with The Children’s Center of Wilkes claiming the title of most steps walked during the campaign.  A total of 8,187,009 steps were recorded by the staff participating at The Children’s Center of Wilkes during the Get Up Get Moving campaign.

Amber Shumake was the individual overall winner walking the most steps of any child care provider in Wilkes County, 1,242,049  steps.  The Get Up Get Moving six month campaign began in May and ended in October.  Steps were reported monthly by participants using pedometers that recorded each step that participants took.  This campaign was designed to encourage movement and activity within the child care center.

During evaluations, participants reported feeling better, reducing stress, and losing weight.  Most participants indicated they will continue wearing the pedometer to record steps to ensure a higher level of activity.

Susan Cogdill, Executive Director of the Wilkes Community Partnership for Children, spoke on the benefits of the Get Up Get Moving campaign.  “The Partnership for Children was honored to be chosen to receive funding from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation.  Child care teachers are influential in the physical activity of young children.  Movement throughout the entire day while caring for young children is not only a necessity but a requirement to maintain a successful classroom environment.  Preschool children begin learning about the importance of physical activity in the classroom through their role model, the classroom teacher.  Get Up Get Moving has allowed teachers and assistants to recognize and value movement throughout the day.”

 

For more information on programs and activities of the Wilkes Community Partnership for Children visit their website www.wilkessmartstart.com .  The Partnership for Children is a Smart Start funded agency and a United Way agency.