Congratulations to the walkers in Waskaganish who just celebrated the conclusion of the 100 Mile Challenge with a feast and awards banquet.
The challenge put forth was for teams of two or more to walk 100 miles or more over a 100-day period this past summer.
This contest was designed to encourage regular (and fun!) physical activity for all community members in an effort to improve overall health and prevent Type 2 Diabetes.
Participation was tremendous. Many teams registered and many individual people were inspired to walk on their own. In total, 14 teams successfully met the challenge and could boast that they were now members of the elite Waskaganish First Nation 100 Mile Club.
These lucky members received commemorative t-shirts designed by local talent Timmy Whiskeychan.
Awards were given for these and other outstanding performances: Fastest Team (first to reach 100 miles) – Leonard and Victoria Hester (34 days); Strongest Team (most miles walked) – Patrick and Beulah Blueboy (222.6 miles); Most Consistent Team (most total days walked) – Edith Gilpin and Margaret Whiskeychan (64 days).
The community will soon start to gear up for an even more successful 100 Mile Challenge in the summer of 1999.
Anyone interested in organizing similar contests in other communities or wishing to challenge Waskaganish next summer is invited to contact Ingrid Kovitch at (819) 895-8833.
The complete list of 100 Mile Club team members: Leonard and Victoria Hester, Patrick and Beulah Blueboy, Edith Gilpin and Margaret Whiskeychan, Flora Erless and Patricia Wesley, David Dannenbaum and Ingrid Kovitch, Jack Diamond and Doris Small-Diamond, Mary Whiskeychan-Small and Virginia Small, Annie Erless and Clara Erless, Lilian Blueboy and Eliza Moar, Bert and Ida Blackned, Rita Blackned and Jane Whiskeychan, Sharon Leslie and Agnes Diamond-Morgan, Eric Shecapio and Lorraine Diamond-Shecapio, Sophie Diamond and Eleanor Diamond.
