Blue Cross Employees Celebrate National Walk at Lunch Day, Raise Funds for Parkinson’s

Lucy Ciaramitaro

| 2 min read

Three women walking on riverfront, laughing
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan employees, executive staff and members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) will add 30 minutes to their normal lunch hour on Wed., April 24 to celebrate National Walk at Lunch Day. The event serves as a kick-off to Global Employee Health & Fitness Month, which takes place every May and highlights the benefits of a healthy workplace. The World Health Organization estimates employees spend over a third of each day and about half their waking hours at work. When healthy habits are integrated into job culture, it results in higher productivity and employee retention, improved morale and lower health care costs. Blue Cross will also donate $1 to Parkinson’s research for every employee who participates. These efforts support Blue Cross’ year-long, enterprise-wide partnership with the Michigan Parkinson Foundation and Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson's to raise awareness and provide information, resources and support to those impacted by this disease. Daniel J. Loepp, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, and his wife Amy, will serve as executive chairs of the “Everybody vs. Parkinson’s” gala taking place Sat., Oct. 19. Loepp’s father, Robert, died from Parkinson’s-related complications making the cause an important effort to him personally. Those interested in purchasing tickets can visit eventbrite.com and search, “Everybody vs. Parkinson’s.” Blue Cross Blue Shield’s National Walk at Lunch Day initiative is designed to help get Americans moving and understand the connection between exercise, good health and health care costs. Those interested can find more information from their Blue Cross sales account manager, BCBSM.com or the BCBSM mobile app.
MI Blues Perspectives is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit, independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association