Pam Jacobs, left, and Amelia Pearson, right, present a certificate to Rodney Hansen, winner of the individual category with 534 total miles.
In past walking challenges at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF), participants walked the distance from SURF to Fermilab and back. In another, they walked to CERN and back.
This spring, the SURF walking challenge took a tour of the 17 United States National Laboratories. The challenge was to walk the distance from SURF to each U.S. National Laboratory in one giant loop—a total of 8,284.5 miles—in just six weeks.
“We completed our sixth week of walking the national labs and surpassed our goal by 2,538.5 miles. The six-week total finished at 10,823 miles!” said Michelle Andresen, ESH Safety Coordinator and member of the Working Wellness Group (WWG), the team that coordinates the walking challenge.
At the end of the competition, prizes were awarded for Most Miles (Team), Most Miles (Individual) and Best Team Name (by popular vote).
In the individual category, Rodney Hanson, Ross Shaft foreman, won with 534 total miles.
In the team category, the “Fermi Perambulators” won with a total of 806.34 miles. Team members are Simon Pollard, James Rickard, Josh Willhite and Joe Eagleston.
“The Young and the Breathless” was selected as the favorite team name by popular vote. Team members are Jarred Burleson, Brian Johnson, Rick Tinnell and Michelle Andresen.
The Environmental, Safety and Health, and Quality Assurance Department at Sanford Underground Research Facility promotes health and safety in the workplace, as well as healthy living and wellness for all employees. If you have questions about health and wellness, please contact our occupational health nurse, Laura Baatz, who is onsite daily at lbaatz@sanfordlab.org.
