SALT LAKE CITY, Utah –  It was straight from the heart – 44 local Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah employees logged 67,376 minutes of exercise in the company’s Charity Challenge to win the top prize of a $1,000 donation to the local chapter of the American Heart Association (AHA).

The Charity Challenge is one of many workplace wellness programs offered at Regence to help employees achieve their health and wellness goals. This year, employees at Regence affiliated companies in Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Washington logged 1,739,413 minutes to benefit charity. That breaks down to 1,207 days, or just over three years of continuous exercise. The prize for the top three teams is a donation to a local charity of their choice. The Utah team won first place this year and chose the AHA as the recipient of their prize.

Two of Utah’s top exercisers are Ellen Jackson and Heather Davis. Ellen has heart disease and osteoporosis in her family, so she focuses on heart and bone density health.  She typically works out every morning before work, does a few evening classes and on weekends, she bikes when possible and takes her dogs hiking up Emigration Canyon. Heather is currently training to run her second full marathon; The Utah Valley Marathon, which will take place this coming June.   In addition she spends her breaks and lunches walking outside and participating in onsite workout classes. In the evenings, she watches television while on the treadmill.

“The Charity Challenge is the perfect example of our employees’ commitment to their own health and well-being and that of our communities,” said Amy Walloch, manager of Wellness Programs for Regence. “The charitable prizes are a great motivator and each year employees really outdo themselves in their efforts to get moving and support our communities.”

The Charity Challenge prize will support the work and mission of the American Heart Association, the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke – the number one and number three killers of Utahns.

About Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah is a leading health plan in Utah, with more than 330,000 members, offering health, life and dental insurance. Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah is a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, and is affiliated with Regence BlueShield of Idaho, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and Regence BlueShield (selected counties in Washington). Together, the companies serve more than two million members in the Northwest/Intermountain Region. The Regence affiliated companies are committed to improving the health of its members and communities, and to transforming the health care system. For more information, please visit www.regence.com or www.regence.com/RegenceUtah.