PCC Employees Embrace Challenge to Pursue Healthier Lifestyle

Jeff Ramey (left), co-chair of the PCC Faculty/Staff Wellness Challenge, congratulates members of the event's first-place team: Vic James, Lit Woodard and Donnie Lee, left to right. Not pictured are Monte Little and Tom Marsh.

WINTERVILLE�After 10 weeks of counting steps, gulping down water, snacking on fruits and vegetables and getting plenty of exercise, a group of Pitt Community College employees celebrated their pursuit of a healthier way of living.

On April 29, employees that participated in the Faculty/Staff Wellness Challenge this semester at PCC gathered in the college�s Craig F. Goess Student Center to enjoy their accomplishments and recognize individuals for outstanding achievement during the event.

According to Jeff Ramey, a PCC Health and Physical Education instructor, the 70-day challenge was a way to encourage employees to pursue healthier lifestyles by using a �fun and competitive format.� Overall, he said, 125 employees took part in the event, many forming teams while others competed individually.

Ramey, who helped chair the committee overseeing the challenge, said points were awarded for steps, water intake, exercise, and fruit and vegetable consumption. He said the final numbers reveal that, collectively, employees lost 390 pounds through more than 3,200 hours of exercise, 62 million steps, 25,000 cups of fruits and vegetables and 36,000 cups of water. 

�Overall, this was truly a wonderful event for faculty and staff to connect together to intentionally pursue a healthier lifestyle,� Ramey said. �Many great steps were taken throughout the challenge that will last long after the event has ended.�

During last month�s celebration, the following were recognized for their special efforts during the challenge:

� First-Place Team: Vic James, Donnie Lee, Monte Little, Tom Marsh and Lit Woodard

� Second-Place Team: JoAnne James, Sue Jefferson, Cecilia Moore-Cobb and Marguerite Parker

� Third-Place Team: Tammy Atchison and Donna Bivans

� Top Female Exerciser: Sue Jefferson

� Top Male Exerciser: Monte Little

� Top Female Stepper: Donna Bivans

� Top Male Stepper: Monte Little

� Top Female with Greatest Weight Loss: Brenda Ernest

� Top Male with Greatest Weight Loss: Gene Hemby

� Participants Maintaining the Ideal Recommended Water Consumption: Sue Jefferson, Nancy Jesmer, Tom Marsh, Timmy Moore, Jeff Ramey, Vandana Srivastava and Christy Weeks

� Participants Maintaining the Ideal Recommended Fruit and Vegetable Consumption: Sue Jefferson, Tom Marsh and Timmy Moore

05/05/2009