Keystone stages winter steps competition

Superintendents, principals of losing teams will spend day of shame wearing others’ school colors

The Keystone Empowers You (KEY) collaborative challenges THRIVE! Southern Lorain County and CommonVIEW to a Winter Warm Up Step Challenge.

During this Challenge, the residents in the Keystone Local School District will compete against residents of the Wellington Exempted Village School District and The Midview Schools to see which group walks the most steps, according to a news release.

Participants also may earn steps with other physical activities, such as housework, shoveling snow or stretching, the release said. How to join:

• Set up an account on LorainCountyHealth.com/ Walks; it’s free!

• Click the “My Challenges” tab

• Click “Join Public Challenge”

• Choose the Winter Warm Up KEYSTONE v. WELLINGTON v. MIDVIEW Challenge

• Choose your team — Keystone, Wellington or Midview

• Click submit and wait for a confirmation email

• Enter your steps every day of the challenge — Jan. 15 through Feb. 14 on LorainCountyHealth.com/ Walks

The team with the highest daily average of steps will receive recognition and bragging rights, according to the release.

The superintendents and principals of the losing teams will spend a day of shame wearing the winning team’s school colors, the release said.

The individual on each team with the highest number of tracked steps will receive a gift certificate from a local business.

Winners will be announced by Feb.18.

The mission of the Challenge is to encourage people to stay or get active during the cold weather months, according to the release.

Keeping active reduces the risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes heart disease and obesity, the release said.

It also has a positive impact on mental health and mood.

KEY offers indoor walking at Keystone Elementary School, 531 Opportunity Way in LaGrange from 6-8 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, until April 28, when school is open.

CommonVIEW offers indoor walking at Midview Middle School, 12865 Grafton Road in Grafton, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on school days through spring.

View a list of more indoor and outdoor walking locations at LorainCountyHealth.com.

Penfield Recreational Park, 40756 State Route 18, has committed to plowing its trails this winter, the release said.

KEY, THRIVE! and CommonVIEW are communitybased collaboratives funded by United Way of Greater Lorain County.

KEY and CommonVIEW are facilitated by Lorain County Public Health.

The collaboratives include partners from local businesses, agencies and organizations working toward making the healthy choice the easy choice, the release said.