Ideal Credit Union’s new Wellbeing Champions Committee launched a five-week step challenge to highlight the importance of daily exercise and encourage participants to walk with a greater purpose at the 10th annual MN Brain Tumor 5K.

Each week the committee shared helpful tips, recipes, motivational messages, and more to inspire and encourage employees to work toward a healthier lifestyle.

The Woodbury, Minn.-based credit union provided employees with a tracking device to measure their daily activity. Participants submitted their average weekly steps for a chance to win prizes and received encouragement to build upon the previous week’s results.

Seventy-eight Ideal employees participated, and 49 completed the five-week step challenge.

"Our goal with the challenge was to promote a healthy, active lifestyle in the office and at home, and to encourage staff to make a long-term commitment to improving their overall well-being, as well as prepare them for the MN Brain Tumor 5K in May,” says Brian Sherrick, president/CEO of the $762 million asset credit union.

‘Our goal was to promote a healthy, active lifestyle in the office and at home.’

Brian Sherrick

Ideal Credit Union has been a major sponsor of the event for the past nine years. Employees serve on the planning committee and volunteer at the event to ensure its success.

The MN Brain Tumor 5K hit a new milestone in 2019, raising $114,608 in donations to bring total fundraising to nearly $780,000 since the event’s inception in 2010. All proceeds benefit the Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research & Information.

The credit union also donated more than 250 volunteer hours to the event, including pre-planning meetings, securing sponsors, marketing, website and social media efforts, event logistics, and more. The donated hours add up to $12,500 of “in-kind” giving this year alone.

Ideal’s Wellbeing Champions Committee is now planning a Financial Fitness Challenge for employees that will kick off in late October.

Learn more: The link between physical and financial health