Moving Starke County Forward Recognizes Progress of Walking Challenge Participants with Drawing for Prize

Posted on August 28, 2018
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI

To recognize all the progress that participants have made in the Moving Starke County Forward “Moon Walkers” initiative so far this year, a drawing for a Fitbit was recently held.

North Judson resident Peggy Bohac was randomly selected and MSCF representatives were pleased to award her with the prize. Another prize will be presented at the end of October when the campaign wraps up for the year.

This is the 6th year that Moving Starke County Forward has hosted a ‘Get Moving Challenge’ to encourage community members to be active by walking, running, biking or engaging in any physical activity of their choice.

Moving Starke County Forward The group is an ongoing coalition of leaders whose purpose is to improve the quality of life and encourage, create and advocate for a healthy Starke County.

It was formed in 2012 after the county ranked 91st out of 92 counties in Indiana health outcomes rankings. Since its implementation, the county has moved up more than 10 spots to 79th.

The “Moon Walkers” campaign began on July 1st and will run until October 31st. Click the following link to register for the challenge or if you’re already signed up, you can log your miles here.

MSCF Secretary Joan Haugh Beatty presents winner Peggy Bohac with a Fitbit

Moving Starke County Forward/North Judson Erie Trail

Starke County Concludes Summer Walking Challenge

Posted on September 23, 2017
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

The Get Moving Starke County walking challenge concluded its fifth season on Monday, Sept. 4.

This year’s campaign, Starke County Walks to the National Parks in America, gathered more than 25,000 miles which surpassed the 16,000 mile goal.

Donna Osborne walked the most miles in the individual category with 2,060 while Mike McGregor logged 1,990 miles and Amy Stacy with 970 miles.

The Prairie Trail team finished first with 13,065 miles. The Holy Walkamolies followed with 2,297 miles and the Toto Treckers came in third with 1,574 miles.

Moving Starke County Forward focuses on improving the quality of life and encourages a healthy Starke County. After ranking 91st out of 92 counties in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation health rankings in 2012, the county has since improved to 86th in the state. The organization will continue efforts to climb the ladder of health.

More Than 6,500 Miles Logged in Moving Starke County Forward Challenge

Posted on August 2, 2017
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI

Starke County residents are making progress in this summer’s Get Moving Challenge. More than 6,500 miles have been logged by 61 participants, according to Moving Starke County Forward.

Leading the team category with over 1,400 miles are The Holy Walkamolies, followed by the Prairie Pedalers and the Toto Treckers. Donna Osborne has the most individual miles with over 1,000. Amy Stacy is in second place with 444 miles, followed by James Skibbe and Venita Cunningham with around 370.

This year’s challenge, Starke County Walks to the National Parks in America, continues through early September. Organizers say there’s still plenty of time to take part.

For more information, visit Moving Starke County Forward’s Facebook page.

Moving Starke County Forward was formed in 2012 to improve the health of local residents. The county has consistently ranked near the bottom in state health rankings.

Moving Starke County Forward Treks Into Space

Posted on June 27, 2016
Author Mary Perren, WKVI 

The moon is the destination for this summer’s Moving Starke County Forward Get Moving Challenge. The fourth annual event encourages community members to get up and get moving by walking, biking or taking part in any physical activity of their choice.

This year’s theme is Starke County Walks to the Moon, with a goal of virtually reaching the lunar surface by late August. Participants are reminded to log their miles each week so they will count toward the collective total.

So far, the summer challenge has over 135 individual participants in addition to 15 different teams. The “Toto Trekkers” is currently in the lead with over 386 combined miles. As for individual standings, Jennifer Moore is leading the way to space with over 105 personal miles in less than one month. As a county, participants have already logged more than 1,214 miles.

Together, participants have exceeded the highest altitude ever reached by a paper plane (21.77 miles). They’ve also surpassed the point at which suborbital space begins (62 miles) and currently remain in low Earth orbit. They sped quickly past the International Space Station, which is an estimated 249 miles from Earth and zoomed on by the Hubble Space Telescope with an orbit height or 347 miles.

The group’s next destination will be the area in space where the Explorer 1 orbited at a height of 903 miles. They will be exiting low Earth orbit and entering medium Earth orbit at 1,243 miles, so promoters urge participants to check their oxygen!

Winners will be announced in late August, and prizes will be awarded to those with the highest number of miles or steps for the entire challenge. There’s still time to sign up.

Moving Starke County Forward is an ongoing coalition of leaders whose purpose is to improve the quality of life and encourage, create and advocate for a healthy Starke County. The group was formed in 2012 after Starke County ranked 91st out of 92 counties in Indiana health rankings; Starke County currently ranks 90th in health outcomes and 87th in health factors among Indiana’s 92 counties.

For more information about Moving Starke County Forward, contact movingscforward@gmail.com. To join the walking program, visit Moving Starke County Forward’s Facebook page for more information.

Moving Starke County Forward Announces Prize Drawing for Walking Challenge Participants

June 8, 2016AuthorMichael Gallenberger, WKVI 

Moving Starke County Forward is providing an incentive to help Starke County residents get active and stay healthy. Those who sign up to take part in this year’s walking challenge, “Starke County Walks to the Moon,” by this Friday will be entered into a drawing to win a Fitbit Flex.

The device can be used to track the number of steps a person’s taken. It also keeps track of the user’s weekly progress and allows that information to be shared with friends online.

Participants must live or work in Starke County to be eligible to win. Anyone who has already signed up for the walking challenge is already entered to win. The winner will be notified in mid-June.

Moving Starke County Forward was formed in 2012 to improve the health of local residents. The county has consistently ranked near the bottom in state health rankings.

If you would still like to sign up for this year’s Get Moving Challenge, fill out this form.

Mission to the Moon: 3rd Annual Walking Challenge

LIVE or WORK in Starke County? SIGN UP for more information on our 3rd Annual Walking Challenge! Our mission is to walk to the MOON! Get your family & neighbors involved to log miles, steps, and exercise Memorial Day through Labor Day. Show the nation that Starke County is committed to healthy living! SIGN UP HERE: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y3DLWWJ

Moving Starke County Forward Seeks Volunteer Program Coordinators

February 11, 2016AuthorMary Perren, WKVI 

Moving Starke County Forward is seeking volunteers from across the county to help with the fourth annual Get Moving Challenge.

The goal is to get people moving and healthy. The volunteer coordinator or coordinators will design the program, recruit, advertise and follow up with participants. The initiative will start in the spring and wrap up in late August or early September.

Moving Starke County Forward is an ongoing coalition of leaders whose purpose is to improve the quality of life and encourage, create and advocate for a healthy Starke County. The group was formed in 2012 after Starke County ranked 91st out of 92 counties in Indiana health rankings.

Program coordinators should have a computer. Interpersonal and computer skills as well as a desire to see a more healthy Starke County are desired. Anyone interested in helping Starke County take another step forward should call Irene Szykonyi at 574-772-1600, ext. 1857 or emailMovingSCForward@gmail.com.