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The third annual eight-week Active U effort drew the highest participation yet among faculty and staff with 9,984 signing up to log weekly activity minutes — up from 7,500 last year.
“It is wonderful to see the increasing numbers of Active U participants,” says Dr. Robert Winfield, chief health officer for the University and director of the University Health Service. “Physical activity helps each person feel well. Along with healthy eating and reducing our modifiable health risk factors, physical activity is a critical part of personal health.”
The number of participants this year also was greater than the roughly 8,600 who signed up in the program’s inaugural year.
“We’re excited that the Healthy Community idea is catching on,” says Colleen Greene, Michigan Healthy Community (MHC) Wellness Coordinator. “I think it think it may have something to do with the prizes that were offered, and people realizing they need to exercise.”
Prizes for participation this year included seven iPod Nanos and MFit free class passes and a $500 travel voucher.
Active U was implemented by the Michigan Healthy Community to promote a culture of health and wellness. Participants sign up and record minutes spent doing physical activities ranging from weight training to running to walking to housework. The program ran from Feb. 5-April 1.
People can participate as individuals or in teams. A wide range of creativity is applied to the pursuit of activity minutes.
“This year we had a couple of different ice skating groups who would skate at their lunch time, a lot of different walking groups and intramural team events,” Greene says. “It does seem that the team idea encourages people. Our statistics have shown that people on teams, who have a support system, tend to do better.”
Also new this year are blogs presented on the Active U Web site.
“I think the blogs we did this year were pretty big, there were some heartwarming submissions on the blog,” Greene says. “Someone might say ‘I’m having a rough week,’ and someone else would respond ‘Don’t give up, try this,’ and someone else would say ‘I did what you suggested.’ People are getting connected more.”
Active U 2008 top teams were:
Five-to-nine members: 1-KEC Milford Pinkie Pie Muffins, 2-Phatties, 3-Hammer strength, 4-Team Wii and 5-Circulating
10-14 members: 1-Arbor Lakes Fit Chicks, 2-B-Fine, 3-Bio Builders, 4-Hold the Ranch and 5-Move uMass
15-19 members: 1-NoPhaTzoS, 2-We’re so Bad, 3-Charlie’s Crushers, 4-MLB Mod Squad and 5-Fat32
20 or more members: 1-Bookin’ It, 2-Livonia Scrub Club, 3-OSEH in Motion, 4- HR AdServ South and 5- Information HuSLers
Active U participants also donated more than $24,000 to charity. One team and one individual representing each campus, chosen randomly, designated the groups to receive donations.
The winner of the $500 grand prize will be announced in the May 12 issue of the University Record.
From the Ann Arbor campus, Team IOE chose Arbor Hospice and Nancy Fox chose the National Kidney Foundation. From Flint, BioHazards chose the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan and Mary Jo Sekelsky chose the American Cancer Society. From Dearborn, Rec’ing Crew chose Fine Arts and Children’s Education and Sports and Karen Morgan chose Alternatives for Girls.
