For 11 days in February, as Andrée Michaud ticked off the milestones, Terrace, Smithers, Burns Lake, Endako… excitement built at Pineridge Elementary School.
While the school’s students, teachers and staff were not actually walking across B.C., they were physically walking around the school and around Prince Rupert. The collective kilometres added up as they competed in a provincial Spirit of Healthy Kids challenge.
Michaud, Pineridge principal, conceived the exercise for the challenge, which was sponsored by the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation. The goal was to virtually walk from Prince Rupert to Prince George, then to Vancouver, cross over to Nanaimo, head up Vancouver Island to Port Hardy and Ferry back to Rupert.
She said she was thoroughly impressed by how much the children embraced the challenge. Even when she got out at lunchtime to do her four laps around the school (one kilometre), she said a “posse” of kids would voluntarily join her.
They even walked on the weekends. And they almost made it home.
In all, they collectively walked 1,953 kilometres making it to Vancouver before crossing over to Vancouver Island and trotting all the way up to Campbell River by the end of the two weeks.
Then they waited. And waited.
Finally, just last week, the foundation announced the winner of the $5,000 prize.
When Michaud received the email, she called a school-wide assembly, something she rarely does. She said the gymnasium went wild.
The 28 schools that participated had to submit a plan for an activity during the challenge period as well as what they planned to do with the grant if they won.
With the $5,000, Pineridge has purchased planters and the next phase of the healthy kids plan is to get them to do some gardening.
The foundation said this was the most successful year yet for the challenge.
“By promoting healthy habits and encouraging active lifestyles, you are helping to shape a healthier, happier future for our children,” it said in an email announcing the winners. “Whether you win or lose, your efforts have already made a significant difference, and for that, we are deeply grateful.”
Five other schools by random draw got $1,000 including Prince Rupert’s Conrad Elementary School.
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