By Ryma Lindquist, WWH, Community Relationship Director
BALDWIN, WI – Western Wisconsin Health (WWH) wrapped up the 2025 “Out of this World with Healthy Hank” Walking Challenge with an exciting in-person finale on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Held in the Baldwin-Woodville High School (B-WHS) gym, over 350 participants gathered to celebrate with special performances by the B-WHS Cheerleaders and B-WHS Band.
The event featured fun physical challenges for children, with winners receiving Scooter’s gift cards. Healthy Hank, Baldwin Royalty, and Syttende Mai Royalty joined in the festivities, posing for photos taken by Suzanne Wynveen Photography against a stunning balloon and backdrop display by What’s Poppin.
The 2025 challenge introduced innovative step-tracking technology via the Motion Connected app, allowing participants 12 and older to sync their smart devices for the “Galaxy Challenge.” Younger participants, part of the “Rocket Challenge,” completed weekly health and fitness missions.
During the finale event, a live prize drawing awarded seven lucky individuals and one corporate team. The grand prize for “Galaxy Challenge” participants (ages 13 and up) was a $3,000 travel voucher, while the “Rocket Challenge” grand prize winner received Mall of America passes to Nickelodeon Universe, Crayola Experience, and Moose Mountain.
WWH registered 477 participants, with 368 successfully completing the eight-week challenge, accumulating a remarkable 146,864,458 steps—equal to 65,445 miles!
Prize Winners:
- Rocket Challenge ($20 Gift Cards – A&W & Scooters): Abella Leach.
- Rocket Challenge (Associated Eye Care Kids’ Sunglasses): Gray Wolski.
- Grand Prize – Rocket Challenge (Mall of America Gift Pack): Dallas Chevrier.
- Corporate Challenge Team Winner: Go Electric, St. Croix Electric Coop.
- Galaxy Challenge (Sunglasses & 1-Year Baldwin Bulletin Subscription): Christopher Brunner.
- Galaxy Challenge (WWH Integrative Health Spa Basket): Emily Pfannes.
- Galaxy Challenge ($500 Nilssen’s Gift Card – Sponsored by WWH): Jodi Volgren.
- Grand Prize – Galaxy Challenge ($3,000 Travel Leaders Voucher): Dana Loos.
Eight local organizations participated in the Corporate Challenge, where businesses tracked employees’ steps, creating internal challenges to boost motivation. WWH calculated each company’s average weekly steps, awarding the top performer with a plaque and a pizza party. This year’s winner, Go Electric, St. Croix Electric Coop, averaged over 10,000 steps per participant per day.
WWH extends heartfelt gratitude to the event sponsors whose generosity made this challenge possible: Platinum Sponsors: Associated Eye Care, Nilssen’s Foods. Gold Sponsors: Baldwin Bulletin, Homestead Veterinary Clinic, St. Croix Electric Coop. Silver Sponsors: Reisner Hudepohl, Travel Leaders, Network Center, Village Pharmacy. Bronze Sponsors: Twin City Title, and Whitecap Financial. A special thanks to Scooter’s for providing hot chocolate and coffee for the kickoff event and 104.9 The Cabin for donating the Mall of America gift pack. WWH also appreciates the efforts of Adam Bassak & the B-WHS Band, Susan Werner, Megan Timmerman, J.R. Dachel, Jason Sell, B-WHS Cheerleaders, Baldwin Royalty, Syttende Mai Royalty, Suzanne Wynveen, and the Baldwin-Woodville High School staff for their help with the finale event.
WWH encourages participants to stay active throughout the year by joining upcoming events:
- Healthy Hustle: Let’s Glow Crazy 5K – June
- Spooky Shuffle – October
Additionally, the WWH Community Trail is open year-round for walking, running, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. For more information on WWH’s wellness programs, visit wwhealth.org.
Western Wisconsin Health: Building a Healthier Tomorrow, Together.
