(January 10, 2008 News Release) Governor Dave Heineman is joined by over 100 state employees for the Governor’s Walk for Wellness.  Lieutenant Governor Rick Sheehy, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joann Schafer, State Senators Gay, Engel, Fulton, Rogert, Nelson, and Wallman, and State Treasurer Shane Osborn also kept pace and enjoyed healthy apples presented by Dr. Schaefer.  The thirty minute walk at noon started in the Capitol’s rotunda on the second floor.  This is part of an ongoing effort to increase awareness of wellness in our state, starting with state employees.

The Walk for Wellness also promoted the 2008 N-Lighten Nebraska challenge. The N-Lighten program was developed several years ago to help co-workers, friends and families be more active, lose weight and develop healthier habits.  During the past five years, more than 50-thousand Nebraskans have taken part in the annual N-Lighten challenge. Five years ago the state of Nebraska began working with the Sports Council to help state workers get involved with N-Lighten as part of our effort to help state employees lead healthier lives. Last year, 140 teams of state workers were part of the program, racking up more than 140-thousand activity points and losing more than 16-hundred pounds all together. The new N-Lighten Nebraska fitness challenge begins on February first.  All state employees are welcome to join in the effort to live healthy lives.  For more information, please visit: http://www.N-LightenNebraska.com.