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Community Fitness Challenge
JOELLE CONNORS & ALYSON HURLEY
Wheeling Executives
Get Fit While Supporting
Local Charities
A group fitness challenge in Wheeling is pushing area CEOs toward better overall health while competing against their peers to benefit their favorite charity. Known as the Community Fitness Challenge for Executives, or CFC, the 90-day fitness competition was designed to encourage a healthy lifestyle among community leaders and set a good example of health and wellness for others.
Created by David McKinley, president and managing director of McKinley Carter Wealth Services, and Ryan Ferns, owner of the Ryan Ferns Healthplex, the CFC was held twice in 2016, and the 2017 class will begin this fall. Each of the first two segments involved approximately 20 CEOs, presidents and executives of area companies.
“ Our region of the country has some of the worst statistics for health and fitness, which I believe is largely because of lifestyle choices,” says McKinley.“ Many in our community believe they are too busy to make time for exercise or eating healthy. As a lifelong West Virginian, business owner and employer who cares very much about our region’ s economic situation and overall health, I knew we needed to do something more.”
In the fall of 2015, McKinley met Ferns to learn more about the programs offered at his gym and found that the total fitness transformation program was the perfect vehicle for building a community challenge and positively impacting West Virginians within their spheres of influence.
After accepting the CFC invitation, each competitor donates $ 1,000 to a charity pool; undergoes a series of benchmark tests, including bloodwork and body scans; and commits to a weekly CrossFit regimen and nutrition class. At the end of the 12-week challenge, the winner is determined by an overall rating system based on cholesterol and body fat improvements, overall nutrition, strength and fitness measurements and other metrics and receives the entire $ 20,000 pool for his or her designated charity.
“ The Community Fitness Challenge appeals to presidents and CEOs on many different levels,” says McKinley.“ Participants are able to greatly improve their own personal health and wellness, the charity aspect allows participants to compete on behalf of an organization they are passionate about, and the social interaction with other competitors creates a fun and motivational atmosphere.”
For the CFC 2.0 group, which finished its challenge in December 2016, the overall metrics were impressive. The total weight lost was 244.5 pounds, body fat decreased by 39 percent, 43.5 inches were lost, and there was a 135-point increase in HDL, or good cholesterol, and a 136-point decrease in LDL, or bad cholesterol. From a fitness standpoint, the group worked incredibly hard, as reflected by their overall accomplishments in several benchmark strength movements: 8,000 push-ups, 9,000 squats, 10,000 pull-ups and 12,000 sit-ups, totaling 39,000 repetitions.
The CFC program has found support within the community, a vital necessity for its success. A key partner, the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce handles the program finances and sponsorship solicitations, coordinates the winner reveal event and contributes to competitor selections. Additional sponsors include The Health Plan, Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack and Undo’ s Family Restaurants.
In just one year, the program has had a significant impact on individuals, regional companies and nonprofits.“ After two competitions, we have contributed $ 40,000 to local nonprofits, directly impacted 40 community leaders, inspired hundreds of others around them to engage in a similar 90-day program and made more than 100,000 positive impressions through social media posts about healthy diets and exercise,” says McKinley. •
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CFC Winners
L-R: Mark Peluchette and Eriks Janelsins. Photo by Alyson Hurley.
MARK PELUCHETTE, president of Liberty Distributors, won the first CFC challenge in 2016. He donated the $ 20,000 pool to Central Catholic High School.
ERIKS JANELSINS, president of the Oglebay Foundation, won CFC 2.0. He donated his winnings to the Oglebay Foundation.
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