Doctors offering $5K in groceries and other prizes to encourage Manitobans to get healthier this winter
4 in 5 people in province say they could be doing more to be healthy: Doctors Manitoba
Manitobans may get rewarded with more than just a healthier lifestyle if they decide to work on their well-being this winter.
Doctors Manitoba announced Tuesday it's bringing back its Getting Healthy challenge.
The contest, first held last June, encourages people to take steps to improve their health by offering anyone who takes their pledge a chance to win more than 20 different prizes — including a grand prize of up to six months worth of groceries (about a $5,000 value).
Doctors Manitoba says that according to a survey it commissioned, about four in five Manitobans don't believe they're doing enough when it comes to doing physical activity, reducing their stress levels, and eating or sleeping well.
Dr. Michael Boroditsky, president of the advocacy organization, says it's important to take proactive steps to get healthy, particularly in the winter months, when many would prefer to hunker down.
"Winter is a tough time — we get that: They're long, it's dark, it's tough to get fresh vegetables, it's tough to get outside, it's cold, the days are shorter," Borotditsky said during a Tuesday news conference announcing the new challenge at Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park.
"We're here to give you a little bit of an incentive."
Almost 9,000 Manitobans took the Getting Healthy pledge last June, with 85 per cent saying later they followed through with their promises, according to Doctors Manitoba.
Winter makes for 'adventurous' landscapes
As of Tuesday afternoon, almost 4,000 people had made a pledge, according to the Getting Healthy website.
Some of the other prizes being offered this time around include Yeti bottles and Roots winter wear.
Anders Swanson, executive director of the Winnipeg Trails Association, said with various programs available to help people stay active in the colder months, Winnipegers are running out of excuses for staying put.
He acknowledged some may think it's "tough to get out in the winter, and I know that it can seem complicated — especially some of the equipment."
But "I disagree that it's hard to get out in the winter," he said, speaking at Tuesday's news conference.
"In fact, winter makes everything a slippery, fun, adventurous landscape. It can be in your backyard or it can be in your local park."
The contest, open to all Manitoba residents, will run until Feb. 15. It's free to enter open on the campaign's website, where you can also find tips on things like how to get better sleep or how to catch up on immunizations.
Boroditsky said besides staying active and eating healthy, the organization also wants to encourage people to keep up with their medical screenings, and remember it's virus season.
