Mayors’ Sole Challenge Participants Brave Cold for Fun and Fellowship
More than 450 local residents joined together for a beautiful, but chilly walk around Maitland’s Quinn Strong and Lake Lily parks on November 1 in celebration of the 3rd Annual Mayors’ Sole Challenge. Participants danced, laughed, walked and talked together, which is the point of the annual event – to bring people together, to encourage regular walking and to enjoy fun and fellowship.
Participants were joined by Bo Outlaw of the Orlando Magic, the mayors of Winter Park, Maitland and Eatonville, and by other elected officials from around Central Florida. The scenic walk was complemented by a rock climbing wall, a human-powered blender bike, face-painters, kids’ games and more fun activities for families.
For the third straight year, Eatonville won by bringing out the most walkers, as a percentage of the town population. As a result, HCF awarded Eatonville $2,500 to be used for parks and recreation or other healthy activities. Additionally, in this year’s new school challenge, Hungerford Elementary took the top prize and $1,000. Lake Sybelia and Dommerich elementary schools tied for 2nd place and each received $375 from HCF. The prize funds will support healthy programs and activities at the schools.
One mother of two young children described the event best:
“As a parent, I am constantly looking for fun and active family activities for my kids and me to participate in together. With a 6 year-old and 3 year-old, it can be difficult to find an activity that is appropriate and appealing to all of us…
The Mayors’ Sole Challenge was the absolute perfect event to introduce my children to a road race type of event without the pressure of running or the logistical nightmare of separate races for adults and kids. Walking together, as a family and as a community, provided my children with a sense of support for their hard work and dedication to participating in a healthy activity that morning. The lively music and entertaining emcee made my children want to continue on for the entire walk.
Thank you Healthy Central Florida for providing us with an amazing opportunity to experience a family walk together. It was a perfect day, a perfect event. When leaving, my son asked me, “When can we do our next one?”
Please click here to see event photos and, it’s not too late to join Healthy Central Florida’s Walk90 Challenge. Residents can log steps and be eligible to win great prizes, including a free 1-year membership to RDV Sportsplex or one of five Fitbit Flexes. Click here for details and to register. And visit the HCF website to see a schedule of regular weekly walks.
