Health and Fitness Finished First in Cabot(R) Creamery Cooperative's Vegas-to-Vermont Virtual Challenge

CABOT, Vt., March 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Believe it or not, the Cabot Cheezers have done it again!  Last fall, more than one thousand boomers ages 50+ walked, ran, biked, rowed or swam their way from Vermont to Las Vegas in Cabot Creamery Cooperative's first-ever Vermont-to-Vegas Virtual Challenge.  Then, after barely stopping to catch their breath, they made the return trip to from Las Vegas to Vermont, exercising the entire way -- and all without leaving their own neighborhoods!

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From the virtual starting line in Las Vegas, participants competed online -- via the honor system -- and logged their exercise each time they worked out.  As each player's exercise time accumulated, they moved along a map towards their final destination back in Vermont.  Along the way, players built a virtual snowman, adding to the body with twig arms, coal buttons and more. Reaching each stage along the way increased their chances of winning prizes via random drawings. Prizes were awarded throughout the Challenge, which began in November and ended poetically on March 4^th -- as in "March forth!" to good health.

Of the more than 800 contestants that began the trek back to Vermont, 307 boomers stayed with the program the entire way, improving their health, having some online fun, enjoying the camaraderie of their fellow Cheezers and winning some unbelievable prizes along the way.

"The turn-out for our 'second leg' of the Virtual Challenge was just great," said Cabot Health Programs Manager and Registered Dietitian, Sara Wing.  "We had great participation in the original Vermont-to-Vegas and are very pleased how the return trip to Vermont continued strong right up until the end."

There were a lot of prize winners, chosen randomly along the entire route, but the real winner was health and fitness.  "When we dreamed-up the virtual challenge last year, our goal was always to entice boomers to stay active," continues Wing.  "Life can get hectic -- that's why we wanted to create a fun, goal-oriented challenge to keep our participants walking, running, swimming, rowing, biking or hiking.  And it didn't hurt that we were giving away some really tremendous prizes, either."

Hundreds of prizes were given away, including the grand prize of a Smuggler's Notch Ski Vacation.  Other prizes included: Concept2 Model D Indoor Rower machines; a limited edition Cabot Hunter's Plaid Snowboard; a 4 day/3 night spa getaway at Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa; Cabot Cheddar gift boxes; Keurig Coffee Machines, courtesy of Green Mountain Coffee; lift tickets to Burke Mountain; a one-year subscription to Vermont Life Magazine; and, of course, Vegas-to-Vermont Virtual Challenge t-shirts.

"We really enjoyed our virtual challenge," said Cabot's Wing, "especially reading the posts of the 'Cheezers' who logged time and miles and messages with such enthusiasm.  We can't say enough about how proud we are of everyone for sticking with the program and improving their health along the way. Together, the farmers who own Cabot and reps from the State of Vermont would like to thank everyone for joining us on the journey."

ABOUT CABOT CREAMERY COOPERATIVE.  Cabot Creamery Cooperative has been in continuous operation in Vermont since 1919, and we make a full line of cheeses, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, and butter. Best known as makers of "The World's Best Cheddar," Cabot is owned by 1200 dairy farm families located through New England and upstate New York. For additional information on Cabot Creamery, visit http://www.cabotcheese.coop

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SOURCE Cabot Creamery Cooperative