LUDINGTON — Corewell Health Ludington Hospital’s Win With Wellness Fit Club has been serving schools in Mason and Oceana counties for the last 10 years. The purpose of the program is to encourage healthy lifestyle habits for students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
The program was started in 2014 by physician assistant Kathy Grierson who had a passion for helping children find ways to embrace healthy lifestyle choices through a variety of learning styles, including hands-on activities. Today, the Win With Wellness Fit Club is championed by Leona Ashley, a community health educator, who shares Grierson’s passion for educating and working with local students.
Ashley teaches educational sessions throughout the school year centered on key health topics such as germs, the importance of exercise and movement, eating the rainbow, and water safety. The children are encouraged to discuss what they are learning with their families at home.
“I always enjoy receiving positive feedback from parents about the health education their children receive,” Ashley said. “It makes me feel good knowing I am having a small impact in the health of the children in the communities we serve.”
Through the Win With Wellness Fit Club, students are also encouraged to participate in the 100 Mile Challenge. Children record 100 miles of activity during the school year (one hour of activity is equivalent to one mile.) Those who complete all 100 miles are entered into a drawing for a bicycle, with one winner being chosen at each school.
Over the past decade, Fit Club students have achieved over 500,000 miles (500,000 hours) of activity at home, school, gym class, and through various other extracurricular activities. Almost 2,700 students have earned 100 miles with more students taking on the challenge during this current school year. To register a student in grades K-5 for Fit Club visit, https://www.onlineregistrationcenter.com/FitClubRegistration2024-25.
The Win With Wellness Fit Club program is just one initiative offered through the Community Health and Wellness department at Corewell Health Ludington Hospital. Additional offerings include American Heart Association CPR classes and tobacco/nicotine cessation counseling provided by Kelly Barnhardt, registered nurse, and tobacco treatment specialist. Community biometric screenings are also offered at no cost for community members.
“Biometric screenings consist of checking important numbers such as blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides, height, weight, and body mass index,” said registered nurse, Kelly Barnhardt, a tobacco treatment specialist. “Screenings can identify risks for metabolic syndrome, a disease that is a combination of multiple disease problems, the two most important being obesity and insulin resistance, which combined become serious risks for diabetes, heart disease, strokes, and even certain cancers. These key health indicators can help guide our behaviors to help prevent or manage disease. Our health is such a crucial part of how we live. It is important to know and discuss the screening results with your health care provider.”
The Health and Wellness team also provides Safe Sitter babysitting classes in the community as well as monthly blood pressure clinics at local senior centers. For more information on current or future offerings please contact the Community Health and Wellness department at 231-845-2222.
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