By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger
After a summer of walking and eating healthy, parishioners from eight parishes in the Davenport Diocese have concluded their friendly health challenge competition.
Walking challenge participants walk along the Bettendorf riverfront last year.
St. Ann Parish in Long Grove recorded the highest average number of steps per person per week —87,537 — making that parish the winner of the walking portion of the competition. Our Lady of the River Parish in LeClaire placed second with 84,331 steps; Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Bettendorf placed third with 84,302 steps; St. John Vianney Parish in Bettendorf placed fourth with 81,702 steps; Our Lady of Victory placed fifth with 79,148 steps; Church of the Visitation in Camanche placed sixth with 74,552 steps; Holy Family Parish in Davenport placed seventh with 70,213 steps and St. Mary Parish in Fairfield placed eighth with 58,767 steps.
Bernie Wilder of Our Lady of Lourdes recorded the most steps: 5,531,093 for the summer program. He is an avid bicyclist and runner, said Cathy Thennes, parish nurse at Lourdes and walking challenge coordinator.
The Fairfield parish came out tops in the average number of fruits and vegetables consumed per person per week: 48.4. Aaron Sheetz of the Fairfield parish was the overall winner in the fruits and vegetables category, with a total of 1,695.
“It is so great to see different people win each year,” Thennes said. All parishes in the diocese are welcome to join the challenger next year, she noted.
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