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Oak Creek ends weight loss challenge
Oak Creek ends weight loss challenge
OAK CREEK (WITI) -- The combined loss of 900 pounds was cause for celebration on Saturday, February 23rd. Nearly 150 people finished the three-month Mayor's Weight Loss Challenge. They were honored in an awards ceremony at Wheaton Franciscan hospital in Franklin.
The winner of the women's challenge was Leslie McFarron. The 42 pounds she shed during the challenge drew oohs and ahhs from the audience but that was just the end of her journey. Since December 2011, she dropped 125 pounds.
"I don't recognize myself. I mean, I lost a person," she said, "I mean, when you think about it, that's awesome. But then, losing a person? That's really gross."
About 600 people signed up for challenge. Although just a fraction of them finished the challenge and the group fell short of the 1,000-pound goal, Mayor Steve Scaffidi called the challenge a huge success.
"Almost every week, we had something that got people moving where in wintertime, that's always hard to do," he said.
Scaffidi, who lost 20 pounds himself, says the challenge was about more than weight loss. He says it also was meant to unite the community after the tragic Sikh temple shooting.
"I wanted to, and I've talked about it many times, as a result of August 5th, ways to bring the community together," he said, "This is one of those things."
Scaffidi says the challenge has strengthened the community while also making it a bit healthier. He hopes to expand the challenge by working with other area mayors to bring the contest into other communities next September.