Homer Steps Up!

“Homer Steps Up!” is an annual community walking challenge held every May on the Southern Kenai Peninsula. Organized by South Peninsula Hospital with support from several partners, the event aims to promote community health and engagement through walking.

Here are the key details of the event:

  • Duration and Participation:

    The challenge spans four weeks and is open to anyone on the Southern Kenai Peninsula. Participants form teams of up to 25 members.

  • Registration:

    Registration is free and can be done online at www.homerstepsup.com starting in April.

  • Tracking Steps:

    Teams track their steps using wearable fitness trackers, smartphones, or by entering them manually.

  • Competition and Prizes:
    • Team Competition: Teams compete based on the cumulative average of their members’ steps, rather than total sum. The top team wins bragging rights and has their name engraved on a traveling trophy. Most importantly, they also win prize money in increments of $500, $300, and $100 to donate to a local non-profit of their choice!

    • Individual Prizes: Participants who maintain a weekly step average of 35,000 steps (approximately 5,000 steps per day) are eligible for weekly prize drawings and end-of-challenge cash prizes totaling $1,800.

    • Youth Category: Youth aged 13-18 are encouraged to participate, with a special incentive of $500 for the winning youth team to donate to a school club or sports club of their choice.

  • Community Support:

    The event is supported by a grant from the South Peninsula Hospital Foundation, which enables the cash prizes and incentives. Additional sponsorship comes from such as the City of Homer, South Peninsula Behavioral Health, SPARC, and SVT Health & Wellness.

  • Awards and Celebration:

    Winners are announced at an awards event at the end of the challenge, celebrating the achievements of participants and teams. All are welcome!

The Homer Steps Up! Program serves as both a health initiative and a community-building event, encouraging physical activity and providing opportunities for local nonprofits to benefit from the participants’ efforts. For more detailed information visit www.homerstepsup.com.