ITEM FILE PHOTO
Saugus Town Hall.
BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE
SAUGUS — Town officials stepped up to secure fitness funds for Saugus.
After going neck and neck with the town of Sutton in a fitness competition for six weeks, Saugus secured first place and a $10,000 grant to be used for fitness and wellness, said Town Manager Scott Crabtree.
He is unsure how the grant will be spent, but it will promote health and wellness.
Town employees participated in the 42-day Spring Steps Challenge, sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association.
Each participant in the competition was outfitted with a Fitbit Zip, a clip-on device that tracks the wearer’s daily steps, miles walked and calories burned. Teams in each participating community compete against each other to compile the highest average number of steps.
Crabtree said he was impressed to see the commitment and competitiveness of the town throughout the competition.
“Some of the folks that participated walked for seven hours in that last day and walked four or five hours the day before,” Crabtree said. “They walked all the way until midnight, when it closed.”
Two walkers completed nearly 2 million steps each during the challenge, Crabtree said. Among the top walkers were Det. Stacey Forni and administrative assistant Charlene Berridge of the Saugus Police Department, who served as team leaders.
Sgt. Det. Kevin Murphy, Lt. Tim O’Brien, Crystal Cakounes and Det. Matt Zichella also shouldered much of the weight.
“It’s just unbelievable,” Crabtree said.
Throughout the challenge, workers chose to go on lunchtime walks together. People also spent time after work and on the weekends walking together.
“It really brought everybody together,” Crabtree said. “People lost weight to feel healthier. I think it’s great.”
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte.
