Laurier’s Sun Life Centre for Physically Active Communities hosts Community Physical Activity Challenge throughout February

Jan. 24, 2022

Take a step in the right direction for your physical well-being this February by joining in the second annual Community Physical Activity Challenge hosted by Laurier’s Sun Life Centre for Physically Active Communities.

The challenge runs between Feb. 1 and 28 and is designed to keep people active during a time of the year when motivation can run low. Participants set a daily step goal appropriate to their fitness level and aim to achieve that goal 20 times during the 28-day challenge. Steps will be tracked using the free app MoveSpring, which connects to most smart devices and includes a leaderboard for more competitive participants.

Other forms of physical activity, such as cycling, aerobics and skiing, can be included in the challenge by using an online activity-to-step conversion tool. Prizes will be awarded throughout the month.

Registration for the Community Physical Activity Challenge is free and open to everyone. Participants must register by Jan. 31.

“We are thrilled to host the Community Physical Activity Challenge again this year,” says Pam Bryden, Sun Life Centre for Physically Active Communities director and a professor in Laurier’s Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education. “There was a lot of enthusiasm and positive feedback about last year’s challenge and we hope participants across the country will join us again for some healthy fun and camaraderie.”

The centre first hosted a community step challenge in February 2021, with 350 competitors participating. Collectively, competitors logged more than 70 million steps – enough to traverse the circumference of the Earth – during the month-long challenge.

More details about the Community Physical Activity Challenge are available online. Questions can be emailed to Nicole Vandermade, program coordinator with the Sun Life Centre for Physically Active Communities.