How firefighters can win prizes in the Step Strong Challenge
Iain Hoey
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Step Strong Challenge launches for first responders
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has announced the launch of its Step Strong Challenge, a month-long walking competition designed to promote health and wellbeing among first responders across the United States.
The challenge begins on Wednesday 1 October at 12:01 a.m. ET and runs until Friday 31 October at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Participants can register through the NVFC Step Strong Challenge app, available to download on smartphones.
According to the NVFC, the initiative provides firefighters and emergency personnel an opportunity to engage in friendly competition while earning chances to win prizes for reaching step goals.
Registration and participation details
Participants must select the “NVFC Step Strong” Challenge within the app, complete registration and pair their activity tracker.
Supported devices include iPhone, Android phone, Fitbit, Garmin and Apple Watch.
The NVFC confirmed that smartphones alone can track activity through inbuilt systems such as Google Fit or Samsung Health.
To ensure accuracy, step data must be synced at least once every 24 hours and before the challenge closes on 31 October.
The council stated that participants should use the “Tap to sync steps” function at the top of the Summary tab within the app.
Questions about the challenge can be directed to NVFC’s Caroline Stachowiak, while technical support is available from Heka Health.
Bonus activities and rewards
Participants can earn additional “bonus steps” by engaging in specific NVFC educational activities throughout October.
Each completed activity provides a 5,000-step boost.
Eligible activities include completing the NVFC’s Power of Hope: Strengthening Resilience and Wellbeing in First Responders course, visiting the NVFC’s Resources for Families of Volunteer Responders webpage, joining the Roundtable Talk: Mentorship in the Fire Service webinar on 28 October, and completing a members-only task announced via email.
Those who are not members can join by 16 October to qualify for the exclusive activity.
Prizes and recognition
The NVFC outlined several prize tiers based on total steps completed by the end of the challenge.
Participants reaching 200,000 steps (approximately 6,500 steps per day) will be entered into raffles for prizes including DripDrop electrolyte sticks, DripDrop water bottles and pickleball sets from Provident.
Those achieving 300,000 steps (around 9,700 daily) will enter raffles for Fire Department Coffee and Rosenbauer coffee bundles and an NVFC Yeti mug.
All participants reaching the 300,000-step goal can also request free posters and stickers promoting health and safety messages for their departments.
The NVFC confirmed that the top ten steppers (ranks two to eleven) will be entered into a separate raffle for $100 in Visa gift cards.
The top overall stepper will win a Bluetooth headset courtesy of David Clark.
Prize winners will be contacted via email in early November.
Relevance for fire and safety professionals
The Step Strong Challenge highlights the NVFC’s ongoing focus on supporting firefighter health and wellness.
For firefighters and emergency service personnel, the initiative provides structured encouragement to prioritise physical activity and mental wellbeing.
Departments can use the challenge as a team-building activity, promoting fitness and engagement outside operational duties.
Fire chiefs and training officers may find the programme valuable for integrating wellness goals into departmental culture.
The challenge also reinforces the NVFC’s educational resources by connecting participation with professional development activities such as resilience training and mentorship.