Legislator walks away with prize

Rep. Neal Hendrickson, D-West Valley, was named the winner of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah's Legislators on the Move contest held during the 2005 Utah legislative session.

Hendrickson walked 832,859 steps (more than 415 miles) during the 45-day session and earned a check for $5,000 from Regence to be donated to the Pioneer Elementary School in West Valley City.

The $5,000 prize will pay for new physical education equipment for the elementary school located in Hendrickson's district.

Started the first week of the 2005 session, Legislators on the Move, developed and funded by Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah, provided every member of the Legislature with a pedometer to measure how many steps they take during the session. Winners won cash prizes from Regence to go to the school of the legislator's choice to pay for fitness-related causes.

Rep. Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake, finished second with 727,715 steps and will receive a check for $2,500 from Regence. Becker said he plans to meet with representatives of the Salt Lake City School District to determine the best use for his prize money.

Finishing in third place was Rep. Wayne Harper, R-West Jordan, who logged 723,863 steps, which earned him $1,000 for the school of his choice.

"Our aim was to encourage physical fitness among members of the legislature and spread the message of fitness to their constituents," said Scott Ideson, president of Regence BlueCross BlueShield. "Their involvement was nothing short of incredible."

The Legislators on the Move program is being conducted in all four states where Regence operates — Utah, Oregon, Idaho and Washington. In all, more than 400 state legislators are participating in the contest designed to demonstrate how easy it is to maintain a respectable level of fitness even when schedules are hectic.