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Six School of Business staff members have formed a team in Walk Kansas 2010, an eight-week health challenge that tracks physical activity and food choices against other teams across the state.

The B-School Babes, as they call their team, are Janet Lukehart, Karla Wallace, Karla Williams, Mary Jane Hoffer, Alanes Sawin and Ann Madden Johnson.

Each team consists of six members. Team members are encouraged to do a minimum of 150 minutes of physical activity each week. Teams also record daily fruit, vegetable and whole grain food consumption. Progress is tracked weekly with more than 2,000 other teams across the state to encourage friendly competition.

“When this first started five or seven years ago, I saw it in the Lawrence Journal-World and got a team of co-workers together and have been doing it ever since,” Mary Jane Hoffer, financial unit business manager and team captain, said.

The B-School Babes are currently ranked fifth in Douglas County out of 89 participating teams.

“We usually walk individually. The minutes for each week are tracked and turned into the team captain once a week. The captain updates the website with the minutes and servings of fruits and veggies for each member,” Hoffer said.

Participants receive weekly motivational newsletters with tips on leading a more active lifestyle, nutrition advice and strategies to reduce stress. Participants are also encouraged to show their commitment to a healthy lifestyle by wearing a Walk Kansas T-shirt.

“Walk Kansas reminds me to build movement into my life each day and it is fun to turn in higher numbers each week,” Janet Lukehart, assistant to the dean, said.

“It’s funny to see faculty and staff move to the side of the halls or jump out of our way when they see us coming down the hall,” Karla Wallace, technology support technician, said.

Walk Kansas 2010 is a health initiative sponsored by Kansas State University’s Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service.

“Find a few interested co-workers and start a team,” Lukehart said. “Participating is fun and a good way to get to know each other better. I am convinced that getting some exercise makes for a more productive workday.”

For more information about Walk Kansas 2010, visit www.walkkansas.org.