Deputy Vice Chancellor (Engagement), Professor Martin Betts has warmly congratulated all 680 Griffith staff who stepped up for the 2014 Global Corporate Challenge.

That’s an increase of almost 500 staff members on last year.

“This is the biggest year by any measure, so thank you for your commitment and well done to each of you,” Professor Betts said.

“The Challenge provides the opportunity for increased personal and workplace wellness. It also enables collaborations across the university though team building and bringing together people who might not otherwise engage with one another.”

As its name would suggest, the Global Corporate Challenge is a world-wide event which this year attracted more than 285,000 people in 185 countries.

During the 100 day challenge participants are encouraged to form teams within their workplace and, equipped with a pedometer, record the number of steps they take each day. It is recommended that each person increase their daily activity to 10,000 steps.

Griffith University participants, however, smashed that with the average number of daily steps for each person reaching nearly 12,000.

Together they burned 128,284,074 kJ, which is the equivalent of 128,280 slices of pizza.

There was also an estimated combined weight loss of 1,048 kg which is equal to around 52 pieces of luggage on an aircraft.

The most active Griffith University team in the Global Corporate Challenge was 'INS on the Run'.

The most active Griffith University team in the Global Corporate Challenge was ‘INS on the Run’.

The most active Griffith University team was INS on the Run, which churned up 9580km between them, while second place went to the GELI Red team.

The most active individual was Maxine Fairholm who averaged 40,000 steps daily.

“The key thing for me was that it challenged me and through it I did more exercise than I normally would,” Maxine said.

It must be recognised however that the “normal” amount of exercise for Maxine is already considerable. She incorporated the Global Challenge into her training schedule for running marathons, and says it helped push her fitness levels further. Even so, Maxine says everyone should get involved next year.

“You need to exercise to keep fit and you have to love the exercising you are doing to keep going. So, it is very important to find the right exercise for you,” Maxine said.

“The Global Corporate Challenge is a good way to get started because it is fun.”

The event is also a fundraiser and this year the proceeds have been used to provide clean drinking water for 33 schools in developing nations around the world.