Reading Hospital's Focus on Personal Health and Wellness Through 'Berks Trail Challenge' Draws to a Successful Completion

On Friday, November 30, the inaugural Berks Trail Challenge came to a successful conclusion and winners were recently contacted. A total of 668 people, ranging in age from 1 to 79, registered to participate in the free program, far exceeding the original goal of 300.

The goal of Berks Trail Challenge encouraged individuals to complete local trails from May 1 through November 30 to help cut back on screen time, while promoting personal wellness and mindful leisure activity. The response from those involved has been overwhelmingly positive, and plans are in place to run the challenge again in spring 2019.

"The Berks Trail Challenge encouraged members of the community to engage in a more active and mindful lifestyle, with their family and friends, while enjoying the natural beauty of our community," said Desha Dickson, Reading Hospital Associate Vice President, Community Wellness. "We hope that these habits will last, not just for the duration of the challenge, but for a lifetime."

Participants of the challenge were incentivized to participate by an array of prizes. Twenty-five winners were randomly selected, and the prizes awarded were dependent upon the achievement level reached. Individuals who completed nine trails, plus two extras, were entered to win a CamelBak hydration pouch. Explorer level participants, those who completed one through five of the trails, were entered to win a Berks Trail Challenge patch.

Winners of the challenge were contacted via to claim their prize award.

Reading Hospital

Reading Hospital is the flagship, Magnet Recognized, acute care hospital of Tower Health. Located in West Reading, Pa., Reading Hospital is a 714-bed hospital that is home to many top-tier specialty care centers, including Reading HealthPlex, McGlinn Cancer Institute, Miller Regional Heart Center, Emergency Department, Level I Trauma Center and Beginnings Maternity Center, which houses the region's only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With more than 1,000 physicians, specialists, and advanced practice providers across 49 locations, Reading Hospital has been recognized for its quality outcomes and clinical expertise across services lines. It is listed as one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for four consecutive years and received a 5-Star Rating from CMS two years in a row. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.