Franklin Road Christian School Wins 'Count Your Steps' Competition

of Novi has won first place in Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson's 2012 "Count Your Steps" competition.

Alarmed by the growing national epidemic of childhood obesity, Patterson launched Count Your Steps in 2004 to encourage Oakland County kids to become active and make proper nutrition choices.

Franklin Road Christian students earned top honors by walking an average of 184,227 steps per student during the competition from April 16 to May 13. of Farmington Hills students averaged of 170,367 steps per student, coming in second place. students walked an average 155,311 steps per student, placing them in third.

Patterson kicked off the “victory lap” with the second and third place schools at the 9th annual Count Your Steps finale Tuesday morning at the Detroit Zoo. Students from Franklin Road Christian were unable to attend due to an all-school talent show being held that same day.

“All of the Count Your Steps kids are winners in the fight against child obesity,” said Patterson in a press release. “My Count Your Steps initiative is designed to get Oakland County kids living active lifestyles and eating healthy foods. We’re looking forward to the program’s 10th year next spring.”

took first place among participating school districts averaging 1,309,235 steps per week. It was followed by second-place with 1,139,143 steps per week. Third-place Avondale Schools rounded out the top three with an average of 899,963 steps per week.

This year, more than 15,000 students at more than 120 schools participated in the Count Your Steps program. Together the students logged 1,028,340,873 steps or 514,170 miles — nearly 20 times around the Earth. Students also ate 81,249 servings of fruits and vegetables.

Since the program’s inception in 2004, more than 188,000 Oakland County third and fourth grade students have logged more than 17 billion steps, or 341 times around the Earth.

2012 program sponsors include Gold Sponsors McLaran Oakland, HealthPlus, PNC Bank, Oakland County Parks, and Detroit Zoological Society; Silver Sponsor HAP; and Supporting Sponsor TheraMatrix Physical Therapy.

The above was provided in a press release from Oakland County.