Cancer docs do own version of moonwalk

It was also a no-brainer, given the work they do.

“We talk to cancer patients about their physical, emotional and spiritual health,” she said. “People who are more active have a 30 percent lower risk of colon cancer than those who are sedentary.” And for women, specifically, exercise may also reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.

“It seemed like helping the work force become more active to help reduce their risk made sense,” said Lenz, who averaged 80,000 steps a week.

The effort kicked off in mid-January. Initially, about 80 percent of GCS’s 500 or so workers signed up. Each person was given a pedometer to measure his steps. When the number of participants started to fall off, officials kept up the space theme by sending out a message: “Houston, we have a problem.”

Ramona Foye, an administrative assistant, joined in to observe her 40th birthday and to take off the extra pounds. “It made me accountable,” said Foye, who shed 19 pounds. “I’m going to keep on because I have 30 more pounds to go.”

Bonnie Dixon, a lead nutritionist, said the challenges have not only increased the fitness level of staffers but it’s also built camaraderie.

But like any space program, there’s always a chance of a setback. Lenz said staffers will fall short of the goal to reach the moon by 57,000 miles, or another one million steps. However, several have vowed to keep on hoofing until they reach the original goal and will likely do so before the end of the year.

“The point of it was to get people walking and we were successful in that,” she said. “We hope to be able to plant that flag.”