Healthy living is paying off for the community of Tumbler Ridge that wins a total of $60,000 towards building walking trails and six B.C. families that win vacations, as the overall winners of the Healthy Families BC Walking Challenge.

Tumbler Ridge wins $50,000 which will go towards building local walking trails to help residents stay active. The community posted 1,155 entries in the contest, which was designed to motivate and encourage families around B.C. to get active by walking or hiking over a six-week period. British Columbians then shared entries online which included 2,500 pictures and 700 maps. There were over 5,000 entries in total from 191 communities.

Tumbler Ridge also won $10,000 in the 5,000 and under population category, and was then entered in the grand prize draw along with the other $10,000 winners:

• Quesnel - population 5,001 to 10,000.
• Esquimalt - population 10,001 to 25,000.
• Penticton - population 25,001 to 100,000.
• Abbotsford - population 100,001 +.

Throughout the challenge, the more entries posted to win, the more chances individuals and families had to win gifts like bicycles, pedometers, or the grand prize, one of six family trips to popular destinations throughout British Columbia. The six grand prize winners are:

• Myrna Johnson of Creston - winner of Northern B.C. trip.
• Ian Yeung of Richmond - winner of Kootenay Rockies trip.
• Robert Wiebe of Surrey - winner of Thompson Okanagan trip.
• Birgit Sharman of Tumbler Ridge - winner of Vancouver Island trip.
• Andrew Drouin of Penticton - winner of Cariboo Chilcotin Coast trip.
• Iona Brown-John of West Kelowna - winner of Vancouver, Coast and Mountains trip.

The Healthy Families BC Walking Challenge was offered in collaboration with 2010 Legacies Now and funded by the Provincial Health Service Authority as part of the Healthy Families BC initiative of the BC Ministry of Health.

Quotes:

Healthy Families BC Walking Challenge vacation winner, Myrna Johnson of Creston -

"I'm so excited to have won the vacation to Northern B.C. The team I was a part of showed its belief in community spirit during the Healthy Families BC Walking Challenge by getting out and getting active."

Quick Facts:

• B.C. has the highest physical activity rates for youth and adults compared to other provinces and territories across Canada.
• Physical activity helps to prevent chronic diseases like cancer, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
• The direct and indirect cost of physical inactivity in our province is estimated to be $573 million annually.
• British Columbia boasts over 530 trails.
• BC Parks is celebrating 100 years this year.

Learn More:

To see the walking challenge vacation prizes: www.healthyfamiliesbcwalkingchallenge.ca/prizes.

For tips on how to get active: www.HealthyFamiliesBC.ca.

To find trails near you and other outdoor activities: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/index.html

Contact:

Ryan Jabs
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)