Dundalk IT holds 'DkIT’s Fittest' STEPS Challenge 2024

Staff and students of Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) have been put through their paces over the past four weeks in an effort to be crowned the winner of “DkIT’s Fittest” STEPS Challenge 2024.

With 26 teams participating and over 10.5 million steps logged (cumulative total of daily averages achieved), DkIT says there was a clear collaborative effort from both staff and students of the Institute. 

Organised by the Health and Physical Activity Programme (HPA) team from the School of Health and Science, staff and students were encouraged to form teams, register for this challenge and log their daily steps over a four-week period. The winning teams clocked up an average of over half a million steps each (cumulative total of daily averages achieved), with the team Slow but Steady, comprising of staff and students from the School of Business and Humanities and School of Engineering, taking the top spot with an impressive total of 557,988 steps. 

Dr. Sinéad O’Connor, HPA lecturer, said of the challenge “It was great to see DkIT on the move over the four weeks of the challenge. Close to 180 participants were involved, with great cross-campus socialisation taking place between staff and students. There seemed to be an energetic buzz around the campus, with real enthusiasm, effort and competitiveness displayed by all. Because of the success of the challenge, we intend on making it a yearly event.”

To celebrate the success of the challenge, a prize-giving ceremony took place on the 5th of November in the Sensory Garden. Prizes were awarded to teams placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd, to “DkIT’s Fittest” School/ Function, to the most engaged participant, and, all teams that completed the four weeks of the challenge were entered into a draw, with one team randomly selected for a prize for “active participation.” The prizewinners were as follows:

1st prize – One-month free membership of Sean Kilroy Fitness (Drogheda OR Dundalk premises). Team: 'Slow but Steady' (School of Business and Humanities and School of Engineering) – Annmarie McHugh, Enda Fields, Shane D'Arcy, Colin Cooney, Aoibheann Fields and Lorraine Dunne. Cumulative step total: 557,988.

2nd prize – A €50 One4all gift card for each team member. Team: 'The Bookworms' (Library) – Frank Brady, Patricia McKevitt, Ronan Dullaghan, Mary McShane and Margaret Smyth (above). Cumulative step total: 525,819.

3rd prize – A €25 One4all gift card for each team member. Team: 'Mighty Midwives' (School of Health & Science) – Dee O'Malley, Aisling Murphy, Jean Carragher, Patricia Larkin, Aoife Murray and Katie O'Neill (above). Cumulative step total: 506,093.

“DkITs Fittest” School/ Functional Area – A commemorative plaque for “DkITs Fittest” School/ Functional Area. Winner: School of Health and Science.

“DkITs Fittest” most engaged participant – A €50 One4all gift card. Winner: Enda Fields (School of Engineering).

“DkITs Fittest” active participation prize – A “DkIT’s Fittest” branded water bottle for each member of the team. Team: 'Nurses on the run' (School of Health and Science) – Siobhán Nash, Sharon Tuohy, Siobhán Agnew Wills, Louise Wayenberg, Joyce Dromgoole, Sinéad Costello and Briege King.

“DkIT’s Fittest” STEPS Challenge 2024 was supported by the DkIT Healthy Campus Initiative, Healthy Ireland Louth, Pobal and the Healthy Ireland fund, Department of Health.