PORT ANGELES — When Bonnie Stehr offered cash prizes and camaraderie in the Olympic Weight Loss Challenge at the first of the year, 125 people took her up on it.
“We didn’t anticipate the size of the group,” Stehr said.
“I am very excited about it,” she said.
Stehr, who works at Therapeutic Associates and volunteers with Volunteers in Medicine of the Olympics — or VIMO — coordinated with the two health groups to come up with the Olympic Weight Loss Challenge.
The challenge asked residents to donate $100 to VIMO to participate in a contest to see who can lose the most weight by the end of March.
Six of the participants will walk away with $500 — and likely will be more than a few pounds lighter.
Raised $12,500
On registration day, the challenge raised $12,500, Stehr said.
The 125 registrants weighed in Jan. 6-7 and were given the option of getting a photo for “before and after” comparison pictures.
On March 30, they will weigh, and the winners will be determined.
The challengers are divided into six groups, Stehr said.
In the 18-34 age group, 16 women and nine men registered for the challenge.
Among the 35-50 age group, 24 women and eight men signed up.
The largest group, those 50 and older, includes 52 women and 16 men.
The person who loses the highest percentage of weight in each category, male and female, will win the grand prize: $500.
Donation to VIMO
Half of the remaining proceeds will be donated to VIMO — which provides medical care to uninsured adults — and half will be divided among competitors who lose at least 5 percent of their body weight.
The program is offering educational and inspirational seminars to participants.
The challenge is not accepting any late registrants, despite continuing interest, Stehr said.
Because of the number of people who asked to be added on, a brand-new challenge may start as soon as the current challenge ends, she said.
The new challenge may feature categories for couples, teams or employer groups.
The challenge began with Stehr’s personal interest in losing 50 pounds.
Initially, she thought of getting a few friends together for a friendly challenge.
Challenge to herself
Challenging herself has helped her maintain her health after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 15 years ago, she said.
Losing 50 pounds could make a great difference to her health, she added — and some of her friends could benefit from losing a few extra pounds and gaining a few dollars as well.
“Then I asked, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to give part to charity?’” she said.
From there, the Olympic Weight Loss Challenge was born.
Stehr said she doesn’t expect to reach her 50-pound weight-loss goal during the challenge.
It’s just going to fuel her motivation.
“It will be a start,” she said.
For more information about VIMO and its clinic at 909 E. Georgiana St. in Port Angeles, visit the website at www.vimoclinic.org or phone the clinic at 360-457-4431.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.