by Leslie Coolidge

Impacting nearly 35,000 state employees, the new A Healthier State initiative is promoting improved health by providing comprehensive baseline worksite assessments, model policies, and wellness consultation services.  DHEC is proud to kick off a component of its worksite wellness initiative this month.

The National Bike Challenge is a nationwide event uniting thousands of current bicyclists—and encouraging countless new riders. It is a free and easy way to challenge yourself, your colleagues and your community to ride more while competing on a local, state and national level. Sponsored by Kimberly-Clark and People for Bikes, the program aims to unite 75,000 riders to pedal 35 million miles from May 1, 2015 until September 30, 2015.

To help promote a healthy lifestyle and air quality, DHEC is taking part in the challenge this year. Please join us – ride for air quality, for health, for DHEC, and for South Carolina! Riders are awarded 1 point for each mile ridden and 20 points for each day in which they ride at least one mile.  That’s a lot of points for a little biking!

DHEC employees – to sign up, visit nationalbikechallenge.org.  After you’ve registered, search workplaces and join the S.C. Dept. of Health and Environmental Control.  For more information, please contact Leslie Coolidge or Melissa Palmer.