The following was provided by Mass. in Motion - Melrose/Wakefield:

The first ever Mass in Motion-Melrose/Wakefield Route 66 community Virtual Team 2013 race is underway, thanks to a collaboration between Fivi Health Networks and Mass in Motion-Melrose/Wakefield.

105 residents are involved in this first-ever community portal race in Massachusetts, and make up twenty-one teams of 5.  Beginning February 5, teams entered into a real time virtual competition, racing against each other as they trek from Chicago to Los Angeles along the famed Route 66.  All teams together have walked almost 6000 miles so far!  Team members received a free pedometer to track their daily steps which are being used to calculate total team mileage on the community health portal.  This friendly competition ends March 28.

To keep motivation strong during cold, wintry weather, every week during the challenge, there is prize for the Team who logs the most steps.

Thank you to the following participants and prize donors:  Wakefield Chamber of Commerce, Dockside Restaurant, Sabatinos Restaurant, Melrose Family YMCA, Melrose Chamber of Commerce, Harrington’s, Greenwood House of Pizza, Marathon Sports, Friends of the Fells, Hallmark Health System-Melrose/Wakefield Hospital, Silva Nutrition, The Savings Bank, Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church, City of Melrose, Town of Wakefield.

For more information, visit www.MiMmelrosewakefield.com or contact Kara Showers, Mass in Motion coordinator, Melrose/Wakefield Health Departments, kshowers@cityofmelrose.org, 781-979-4123.