By Anne Marie Amacher
The challenge is on. A walking challenge that is.
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Bettendorf and Holy Family Parish in Davenport are participating in a summer walking program challenge.
Cathy Thennes, parish nurse at Lourdes for the past nine years, said she is working with Holy Family’s new parish nurse, Mary Fritch.
At Lourdes, the parish has been involved in a summer walk program for three years. Thennes, who is Fritch’s preceptor — or teacher — in the parish nurse program, suggested the walk program to Fritch and then offered a challenge to get more people involved.
“We decided to do the walk together,” Thennes said.
Each parish had signup May 30-31, with the challenge running June 1-Aug. 28.
Participants from each parish will record the number of steps they take (from a pedometer reading) or use a chart to convert other forms of exercise into a number of steps.
The challenge also takes into account healthy eating, said Thennes. “Eating fruits and vegetables adds points. It makes you more aware of what you eat.”
Each weekend parishioners record their information at their home parish. Results are then shared between the two parishes. Although there is no overall prize to the winning parish, prizes will be given at each parish after the challenge is finished.
“I’m hopeful there is a lot of interest,” Fritch said. “There are a lot of walkers here at Holy Family.”
The challenge is open to all ages in the parishes.
