Moving together... apart
To increase motivation, the Challenge traditionally encourages participants to find a workout partner. This year, however, due to the coronavirus pandemic, participants were reminded to social distance from others and encouraged to keep moving together…apart. Kudos to all participants who found a way to stay motivated to exercise, stay healthy and safe.Contest by the numbers
This year, 7,900 participants in 116 groups joined the competition. The groups hailed from all across the United States and ranged in size from 2 to 1,175 participants. They averaged 53 days of exercise during the 92-day Challenge, or nearly 4 days per week.Founders Challenge
Again this year, a special competition was held between the three founders of the Challenge: Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), and the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS). For the third year in a row, DHS took the top prize in the Founder’s Challenge. Although DHS won the leaderboard, they along with Arkansas Blue Cross took the opportunity to issue a special recognition “The Guiding Star Award” to ADH associates, led by Dr. Nate Smith, director and state health officer for the Arkansas Department of Health, in recognition of their valiant efforts to complete the Challenge under extraordinary circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic. (See videos below).The 2020 Blue & You Fitness Challenge Winners
Founders’ Challenge:
1st place – Arkansas Department of Human Services 2nd place – Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield 3rd place – Arkansas Department of HealthGroup Category 1 (2-3 participants)
1st place – Heart Thumpers 2nd place – Lake Area Powersports 3rd place – On The MoveGroup Category 2 (4-5 participants)
1st place – Oregon Trail Blazers 2nd place – McGhee Insurance 3rd place – Krebs BrothersGroup Category 3 (6-7 participants)
1st place – Simslimslayers 2nd place – HMS 3rd place – Theodore Jones ElementaryGroup Category 4 (8-9 participants)
1st place – Arkansas Diamonds Sr. W Basketball 2nd place – CHSWampuscats 3rd place – Patterson FCUGroup Category 5 (10-11 participants)
1st place – BHMC – Conway 2nd place – HHS Healthy Rowdies 3rd place – Arkansas Hunger Relief AllianceGroup Category 6 (12-15 participants)
1st place – Patterson Mold and Tool 2nd place – AETN 3rd place – BHMC - StuttgartGroup Category 7 (16-18 participants)
1st place – The Law Group of Northwest Arkansas 2nd place – Arkansas Best Federal Credit Union 3rd place – Magazine School DistrictGroup Category 8 (19-23 participants)
1st place – Legacy TPC 2nd place – Union Bank & Trust Co 3rd place – Harrison Energy PartnersGroup Category 9 (24-29 participants)
1st place – Fabulous FHS SPED Team 2nd place – Umarex 3rd place – Baptist Health Extended Care HospitalGroup Category 10 (30-41 participants)
1st place – Crime Lab Calorie-Burning Crusaders 2nd place – MTI2020 3rd place – ACHIGroup Category 11 (42-99 participants)
1st place – K&K Veterinary Supply, Inc. 2nd place – City of La Mesa 3rd place – Arkansas State University-NewportGroup Category 12 (100+ participants)
1st place – Summit Utilities Inc. 2nd place – Searcy Public Schools 3rd place – Unity Health2020 ACHI Healthy Active Arkansas challenge winners
The Arkansas Center for Health Improve (ACHI) also announced the winners of its Healthy Active Arkansas Hospital Challenge and School Challenge. ACHI holds the Hospital Challenge and School Challenge each year as a complement to the Blue & You Fitness Challenge. ACHI's challenges focus on hospital and school employees, who are well-positioned to serve as role models. Winners were chosen based on their participation levels in the Blue & You Fitness Challenge, which was held March 1–May 31 "Our daily lives have been disrupted in countless ways by the COVID-19 pandemic, but getting regular exercise remains important and can help relieve stress," ACHI President and CEO Dr. Joe Thompson said. "The Blue & You Fitness Challenge has been an excellent motivator."Hospital Challenge
- Small Group Winner - Tie between Levi Hospital and Baptist Health Medical Center-Conway
- Medium Group Winner - Baptist Health Extended Care Hospital
- Large Group Winner - Unity Health
School Challenge
- Small Group Winner - Heart Thumpers (Bergman Public Schools)
- Medium Group Winner - Fabulous FHS SPED Team (Fayetteville High School)
- Large Group Winner - Searcy Public Schools