Sue Jensen of Underwood wins 8th Annual Community Health Challenge
Contact: Katie Johnson
Jensen chooses “Wounded Paw Project” to award Matching Gift of $1,000
(FERGUS FALLS, Minn.) – Lake Region Healthcare (LRH) recently announced Sue Jensen of Underwood as the winner of their 8th annual community health challenge called “Do Good. Feel Good.”
The challenge was focused on promoting more physical activity for better health, but also promoted the health benefits of doing good for others as participants earned points both by exercising and by donating their time, money, & goods and by performing random acts of kindness.
The grand prize for the challenge: $1,000 cash to the winner along with another $1,000 to give away to a person or a cause of their choice. To be eligible for the grand prize, participants had to register by April 24th and participate in a minimum number of challenge activities to be included in the random drawing of eligible participants. “We were so happy to present Sue with the grand prize,” said LRH Director of Wellness, Natalie Knutson. “She has participated in our Community Health Challenge since the very beginning and is such a great motivation for those around her.”
“I try to take bits and pieces from each challenge to integrate into my lifestyle from year to year,” Jensen said. “It’s always been such a fun jump start in the new year and I really enjoy the different challenges, variety of education and fun LRH offers through these challenges,” she added. From year to year, adding more and more changes has really helped Sue stay healthy and enjoy life.
Sue said that the morning of the grand prize giveaway, she ran through her head “What if I won? Who would I give my matched $1,000 to? Who would most benefit?” She said there was no question that her matched dollars would go to her cousin Jess, to donate to the Wounded Paw Project.
After the recent passing of her husband, Master Sergeant David Greiner, in a car crash, Jess asked to have memorials in his honor donated to the Wounded Dog Project. The Wounded Paw Project is a program developed for veterans and trains dogs to assist individuals with special needs, anxiety and/or PTSD. The dogs are then matched up with owners. Jess and her husband were very involved in this program due to their love of animals and their want to give back.
Jensen was able to present the matching gift to her cousin in person earlier this week. Looking back over the years of challenges she has participated, she said her favorite challenge was probably last year’s National Park Challenge, adding “but how could this year not be my favorite being the big winner and being able to make a big impact?”
To see a video of the check presentation to Sue and Jess, visit www.lrhc.org/healthchallenge.
Corporate Cup Winner Also Announced at Challenge
This year’s challenge also included a team option, serving as the Lake Region Healthcare’s “Corporate Cup” competition. A total of eleven business teams joined the challenge with Shoretex Products of Fergus Falls taking top honors. Co-owner Sharon Heifort said the biggest key to their success was having mini challenges amongst their staff during the challenge. “It was an opportunity to offer workplace wellness without having to create the challenge. All of our team members said they really enjoyed it and having team meetings & prizes during the challenge was so fun and motivating,” she said. Shoretex was presented the Corporate Cup Trophy earlier this week and will proudly display it until next year’s Corporate Cup competition crowns the 2022 championship team.
Attached photos:
2021 Community Health Challenge winner Sue Jensen hugs her cousin Jess Greiner after LRH Wellness Director Natalie Knutson presented them each with a $1,000 check. Sue chose to give Jess the $1,000 matching prize she was given to award to a person or cause of her choice. Jess will be giving the $1,000 to the Wounded Paw Project in memory of her husband, David, to be used for their work to rehabilitate and train shelter dogs and pair them with service members, veterans, civilians and children who can benefit from emotional support dogs.
The 2021 Corporate Cup Trophy was awarded to the team at Shortex Products, L to R: Teresa Stundahl, Jen Leabch, Roxanne Hammer, Angel Blevins (front), Lisa Pelletier, Marlys Thoen, Tom Kaste, Kim Connely, Mike Swedenburg, Sharon Heifort
About the Lake Region Healthcare Enterprise
The Lake Region Healthcare enterprise is comprised of Lake Region Healthcare, an independent community-governed non-profit headquartered in Fergus Falls, the Mill Street Residence Assisted Living Facility in Fergus Falls, and the non-profit critical access hospital, Prairie Ridge Hospital and Health Services headquartered in Elbow Lake. With over 100 medical staff and over 1,000 employees, we are dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of our communities with values of Excellence, Person-Centered, Collaboration, Stewardship, Integrity, Respect and Innovation. Together we bring specialty and sub-specialty services to patients at hospital locations in Fergus Falls and Elbow Lake and at clinics in Ashby, Barnesville, Battle Lake, Evansville, Herman, Hoffman, and Morris, MN. For more information visit: www.lrhc.org, www.prairiehealth.org or www.millstreet.lrhc.org.