Before Lee Kholsa made some lifestyle changes, his doctor told him that his diabetes was out of control and he only had six months to live.
Today, the Brooklyn Park resident is leading a healthy, active lifestyle. As part of the county’s Step to it challenge, he's logged millions of steps of physical activity.
Kholsa was one of 6,100 Twin Cities residents who participated in the physical activity challenge last year. Step to it motivates people of all ages and abilities to become more active during the month of May .
During the May 1 - 28 challenge, participants track their steps for a chance to win Twins tickets or other prizes. While Kholsa has claimed the title of top stepper in his city in previous years, he said the challenge is not about that.
“I am not doing this for the sake of becoming the winner," he said. "I am only doing it for my own body. By doing the exercises and medication, I am controlling everything now."
Lee KholsaI am not doing this for the sake of becoming the winner. I am only doing it for my own body. By doing the exercises and medication, I am controlling everything now.
Number of
steps tracked by
6,100 people
during the 2018
Step to it challenge
People can join the challenge as part of their community, school, workplace or other group.
"The fun thing about this is that anyone can sign up. Families are making a conscious effort to be physically active together,” Tom Luu, physical education teacher, said.
More than 200 students at Tom’s school, School of Engineering and Arts in Golden Valley, joined the county's Step to it challenge last year. The school has won several visits from the Minnesota Twins through the challenge because of its high participation.
Participants can log all types of activity toward their step total – even for activities already part of their daily routine, like washing the car, cleaning the house and doing laundry.
“Exercise doesn’t have to mean going to the gym. There’s always something you can turn into an exercise,” said Sharon Kephart, a Step to it participant from Brooklyn Center.
Recently, Sharon participated in the challenge with her 94-year-old mother and her 28-year-old daughter. The challenge enabled the three generations of women to find new ways to stay active and spend time together.
“It was a way to see each other more often," Kephart said. "You don’t realize you are taking that many steps every day. It’s encouraging to see and makes you feel good."
Crystal resident Naomi Davidson uses the challenge as a way to stay active while meeting people.
"The Step to it challenge is a great way to meet new and existing neighbors," Davidson said. "Introduce yourself as you walk by and ask them to join your team. A safer neighborhood is one where people know each other."
In past years, Davidson has inspired her neighbors to get active by forming a neighborhood Step to it team, which she named the “The Dynamos.” The team ends each year’s challenge with a celebratory barbeque at Davidson’s home.
“What I have found is many people think it is too time consuming to enter your steps or that you have to go to a gym," Davidson said. "But you can enter steps daily or weekly using your everyday activities. The challenge only lasts four weeks. Every step helps build community, and you help yourself with the exercise."
Written by: Nicole Hovatter
