In pursuit of promoting health and fitness to employees, Ewing Irrigation, Golf & Industrial joins the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon and ½ Marathon’s inaugural ‘Get Fit Challenge’—a competition created to encourage businesses and government agencies throughout North America to form a team of employees and participate in the fourth annual Arizona running event held in Phoenix on Jan. 14, 2007. The competition offers awards for organizations who achieve the best overall participation, as well as the most spirited team.
"Ewing was extremely proactive in forming their own corporate team, even without having this competition as an incentive," said Stacey Campbell, event manager for Elite Racing, Inc. "Elite Racing started the ‘Get Fit Challenge’ based in part on the positive, proactive program in place at Ewing to motivate and encourage other companies to do what Ewing has been doing for the last three years.”
Over the past three years, hundreds of Ewing employees and their families have participated in the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon and ½ Marathon. Rilus Graham, Vice President of Credit Administration at Ewing, competes annually in the half marathon with his entire family. “Working towards a healthier lifestyle and sharing that experience with my family and other Ewingites is very rewarding,” Graham said.
Ewing participants will be sporting gear donning their marathon slogan, “Will Rock for Water”, to promote the paramount issue of water conservation to the public.
“We need to let the public know that the efficient use of water is quite effortless, and with each person doing their part, the country will conserve water supplies for future generations,” stated Douglas York, president of Ewing and ½ marathon participant.
As Ewing’s employee marathon and half-marathon training programs head underway, there is a noticeable upward spike in enrollment from last year due to the competitive edge evoked by participating in the ‘Get Fit Challenge’.
“We’ve encouraged our employees from coast to coast to participate in this year’s Get Fit Challenge,” York said. “Our involvement in this race has proved a perfect vehicle for igniting company unity and simultaneously motivating employees to get fit.” Leading by example, York’s own family also participated in last year’s race; Kelli York, Doug’s wife, participated in last year’s ½ marathon, and Sue York, Doug’s mother, completed the full marathon.
Ewing sponsors employees and family members who want to participate in the race and creates customized training manuals and nutrition guidelines for each runner. The day of the race, Ewing maintains a large on-site presence with their Team in Training Support Staff who serve to motivate participating employees.
Promoting healthy lifestyles to employees is a strong initiative for York. “We bring in nutrition experts to speak to employees, offer discounted gym memberships, bring in a yoga instructor twice a week, and are building a fitness center and yoga room in our new building,” York said.
Other companies taking a stab at the ‘Get Fit Challenge’ include P.F. Chang’s, Honeywell, and Motorola. For more information on the ‘Get Fit Challenge’, visit www.rnraz.com or call 800-311-1255.