Beyond the Card: The Power of Support

bcbsm

| 2 min read

There’s one thing every Michigan resident can likely agree on: winters are frigid. We kick off each New Year with steadfast resolutions that too often get plowed to the side with the first snowfall. Not for Winter Warm Up participants. For more than a decade, Blue Cross has sponsored Lansing’s Winter Warm Up challenge to help mid-Michigan residents stay active and healthy through the winter. The program is supported by Community Partners in Health, a coalition of 24 local organizations and municipalities dedicated to building healthier, stronger communities. Since inception in 2003, the Winter Warm Up evolved from a walking program to a community-wide competition, with teams competing to track the most physical activity. This year, the Winter Warm Up launched a new challenge: the Blue Cross Community Couch-to-5K. The Blue Cross Community Couch-to-5K program was designed to provide extra support to residents looking to take their first step toward fitness in 2016. The free, eight-week program included bi-weekly training sessions with certified Good Form coaches from the Playmakers Fitness Foundation. Hundreds of participants of all ages and abilities trained with their local community team in Charlotte, Delhi Township, Delta Township, Dewitt, East Lansing, Lansing, St. Johns or Williamston. Through rain and snow, Winter Warm Up participants came together with a common goal: complete a 5K. This past weekend, they finally crossed the finish line. [smartslider3 slider=2] This post is part of a storytelling series we call, “Beyond the Card.” These stories will feature Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan members, employees, and communities who are making meaningful differences throughout our state. We invite you to follow Beyond the Card stories here at MIBluesPerspectives.com and through the hashtag, #BeyondtheCard on our social channels. If you have a story you would like to share, please feel free to contact us at stories@bcbsm.com. Photo Credit: larsjuh
MI Blue Daily is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit, independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association