"Get Moving U.P." Makes Regular Physical Activity the Norm for Over 500 People

Blue Cross and WELCUP boost adult fitness in six regions

Pictured are local winners of Get Moving UP Fleece Jackets: Dee Dee Maki (left) and Pat Marcouiller. Both Maki and Marcouiller completed the eight week program and met the minimum requirement for physical activity. Jacket Winners not pictured are Renee Pertile, Bob and Maj-Lis Sejbl, Linda Cossi, Margaret Grachek and Lea Miskovich. There were also numerous cash prize winners from Gogebic and Ontonagon counties.

IRONWOOD, MI - Monday, May 17, 2010 — A 50-something woman who went sledding with her grandchildren is just one example of how 508 Upper Peninsula residents vied in “Get Moving U.P.,” an eight-week winter fitness challenge. Event sponsors Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and the Wellness Council of the U.P. awarded cash and other prizes to individuals on the winning Marquette-Alger team in a noon ceremony on Wednesday, March 24 at Northern Michigan University’s Superior Dome.

 According to the Marquette County Health Department’s survey, anonymously completed by 65 participants ages 21 to more than 60:

• 100 percent would compete again.
• 96 percent will remain active on a regular basis.
• 93 percent have more energy.
• 87 percent met the event goal of 1,200 minutes of recorded fitness activity.
• 54 percent lost weight.

In the survey, one respondent commented that they, “began making time for exercise every morning…this program was really the impetus I needed to say, ‘This is the year I am finally going to do it.’ Even my husband has begun walking with me… I feel very optimistic that we will stay active and moving from here on out!”

Six regional teams competed from January 3rd through February 27th. Each will receive $833 to support its free wellness program or public recreation site. Marquette Township’s $500 regional community prize will help pay for the Iron Ore Heritage Trail’s trailhead.

Individuals logged more than 48,000 “mile equivalents” in daily entries on the Blues’ WalkingWorks Web site:

Team Name	Total "Miles"	Average weekly "miles" per participant
Marquette Alger	10,908.74	73.21
Chippewa Luce Mackinac	10,109.43	78.37
Delta Menominee Schoolcraft	7,818.37	89.87
Dickinson Iron	7,051.60	95.29
Gogebic Ontonagon	6,261.02	125.22
Keweenaw Baraga Houghton	949.89	49.99

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has a unique mission that is different from other health insurance companies. The company is committed to focusing on reducing health care costs and improving quality, increasing access to health care coverage and services, and improving the health status of Michigan's residents, particularly children.

BCBSM and WELCUP are partnering again for another on-line incentive based program beginning in September. For more information contact Grand View Health System’s Community Health and Wellness Coordinator at 932-2525.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit organization, provides and administers health benefits to nearly 4.5 million members residing in Michigan in addition to members of Michigan-headquartered groups who reside outside the state. The company offers a broad variety of plans including: Traditional Blue Cross Blue Shield; Blue Preferred®, Community BlueSM and Healthy Blue IncentivesSM PPOs; Blue Care Network HMO; BCN Healthy Blue LivingSM; Flexible BlueSM plans compatible with health savings accounts; Medicare Advantage; Part D Prescription Drug plans, and MyBlueSM products in the under-age-65 individual market. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more company information, visit www.bcbsm.com.