HANCOCK COUNTY — The county’s two medical wellness centers are welcoming residents into their doors through the month of March — at no charge.
The Hancock Wellness Centers in Greenfield and McCordsville are hosting the “Let’s Move for a Better World” challenge. Gym members and non-members alike are invited to come work out on special equipment manufactured by Technogym that tracks their movements as the centers participate in a worldwide contest for a $10,000 grand prize and the right to donate new exercise equipment to county schools.
The two medical fitness centers offer a variety of incentives to members and those who walk in, from free admission to prizes for those who contribute the most moves to the effort. The campaign logs workouts at some 1,000 participating gyms in 29 countries; those that log the most “moves,” from participants, whether on a treadmill, rowing machine or weight equipment, earn top prizes, said David Flench, wellness centers director.
And since this is the second year for the McCordsville location to participate, with the facility getting the hang of things shortly after its opening in March 2017, this year’s event will include friendly competitions between the two county sites, Flench said.
The “Let’s Move” contest runs through March 31, with three weeks of themed events, he said. This week is school week, with penny wars at each location — the winning school district earns a prize. Business week is March 18 through 24, with prizes from local businesses being offered and employees from county businesses participating in events at both locations. The final week, which honors community service organizations like police and firefighters, features chances to win membership discounts, workout gear and more.
In the five years of participating, Hancock Wellness Center has performed well not just against other United States gyms but those across the world, said Chris Powell, Greenfield fitness manager.
“We’ve been one of the top facilities nationwide and globally,” Powell said. “The primary initiative of the contest is to reduce obesity, promote wellness and bring communities together.
In 2015, the Greenfield Hancock Wellness Center had the most moves of any fitness center in the United States and donated the exercise equipment prize to Eastern Hancock Schools Corp. In 2016, the wellness center’s placement in the contest allowed organizers to donate about a dozen exercise bikes to Greenfield-Central High School, Flench said.
On the local level, the wellness center is hoping to involve anyone with an interest in getting healthy in the campaign. Those who wish to participate don’t have to be fitness center members.
Those who aren’t members of the wellness centers must fill out a waiver, and those younger than 15 must have a guardian present to exercise, but young movers are more than welcome.
The success the wellness centers have seen with the “Let’s Move” contest is impressive, said Stephanie Swann, McCordsville exercise specialist and Hancock Health wellness coordinator.
“It’s a huge deal to have something like this anywhere in Indiana, let alone two locations in Hancock County,” she said. “It speaks a lot of the volume of what Hancock Health is trying to do to help the county be healthier.”
The national leader board tracking gyms’ progress can be found at technogym.com/us/letsmove.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Get moving” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Here’s where to participate in the “Let’s Move for a Better World” challenge with Hancock Wellness.
Greenfield location: 888 W. New Road, Greenfield
More info: 317- 468-6100
McCordsville location: 8535 N. Clearview Drive, McCordsville
More info: 317-335-6939
[sc:pullout-text-end]
