Press Release

Top Schools and School Districts Announced In 5th Annual Count Your Steps Grand Finale

Pontiac, MI, May 27, 2008 Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson honored the top three school districts and schools in his 2008 Count Your Steps pedometer walking program during a lively and entertaining grand finale held in the gymnasium of Shrine Catholic Grade School in Royal Oak.

Finishing first among school districts this year was West Bloomfield, followed by Walled Lake and then Novi.  Shrine Catholic Grade School was tops among all participating schools, followed by Green Elementary in West Bloomfield and St. Fabian in Farmington Hills.

In 2008, some 20,000 third and fourth grade students and 150 schools participated in Count Your Steps, bringing the five year total to 120,000 children.

During the ceremony Radio Disney (AM 910) performers led students in singing songs and participating in games and contests.  Patterson also presented plaques to this years sponsors in appreciation of their financial support for Count Your Steps:

• Platinum: POH Medical Center
• Gold: General Motors; Health Plus of Michigan and Radio Disney
• Supporting: HAP; Oakland County Parks and Oakland County Health Division

Patterson, who started Count Your Steps because of the growing epidemic of childhood obesity, noted in his remarks that students logged a total of 1.3 billion steps this year.

For media inquiries only, please contact Bob Dustman, Media and Communications Officer, at (248) 858-1048.

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