Colonial staff completed a 16-week health challenge last week, which saw them increase their activity levels.It’s the second year that the local insurer participated in the Global Corporate Challenge, an international event where teams compete to be the most physically active.In May, 343 employees and clients joined an 185,000-strong community of workers to take part in the health event.Jacqueline Teunissen, corporate wellness director at Colonial said the company supported employees in making small cumulative choices throughout the day to step up their physical activity levels.“We encouraged employees to get out of their seats as much as possible throughout the work day, to engage with their office colleagues face-to-face instead of over e-mail or telephone, to take the stairs wherever they could and to leave their desks and walk during lunch breaks,’ said Ms Teunissen.“Small actions like these really helped our employees to achieve — and in many cases exceed — their 10,000 step goal for the day and to create lifestyle habits that will stick for the long-term.”Colonial employees and their clients walked, swam and cycled an average of 13,009 steps per day the average worker has a daily step count of 3,000. Converting actual team steps into virtual ones, employees also enjoyed a whirlwind adventure travelling the globe via the challenge’s interactive website.Collectively, Colonial employees and their clients trekked 174,341 miles around the world. According to participants, visiting some of the world’s most exciting destinations this way helped keep them motivated to continue their active efforts. It also provided a platform for some friendly competition.As well as the personal challenge aspect of the programme, our employees really enjoyed the friendly rivalry in competing against workmates as well as other companies to race around the world,” said Ms Teunissen.The team, Max Energy got top honours at Colonial in Bermuda ranking 3,804th on the GCC global leader-board.“This was no small feat considering there were a total 26,291 teams in the running,” said Ms Teunissen.“Overall, it has had an incredible impact in our workplace. Not only have our employees increased their physical activity levels and adopted healthier lifestyle habits, but they’re also more positive and energised physically and mentally. Employee morale and camaraderie has really lifted and that’s just fantastic.”Having supported employees to improve their health, Colonial is also sponsoring local primary school children to take part in the Global Children’s Challenge, which started last week. Students participate free of charge as a direct result of Colonial’s participation in the Corporate Challenge.“Community involvement is an important element of Colonial’s corporate social responsibility commitment. We’re delighted with the results our employees have had with the challenge, so we’re proud to help children in our community to participate in the junior version of the programme and adopt the active lifestyle habits that will support their health for life,” said Ms Teunissen.