Cigna Run Together Meet Up!
Huge shout out and thank you to Cigna for having me out this year for the Cigna Social Great Race. I love that Cigna supports the Disneyland Half Marathon and more.
It is important to my family to stay fit, eat healthy and live well. I am so happy that I was able to participate in the Cigna Healthy Coaches fun time inside Disney's California Adventure!
There were so many inspirational stories from everyday people that made one step in the right direction to make a change towards a healthier lifestyle and some that are a recovery from an injury.
What ever the case may be Cigna has been there to help see their successful goals hit all the way through.
One inspirational story that stuck out to me was that of Mindy Huggins-Collins, a Cigna Disability Customer, who participates in the Disneyland 5K!
Here is her inspirational teamwork towards recovery story...
"For 20 years, Mindy Huggins-Collins, 60 years old and resident of Lancaster, Ohio, found her first love in exercise and healthy living. Inspired by her mom, she maintained a weight-training regime that kick-started everyday that made her feel good about herself and provided an athletic high to tackle the day.
For someone who works at a home improvement store, Mindy’s strength and positive attitude were important assets. Then, in January 2015, a car accident sent her health down an unexpected path – at least, for a little while. At first, she didn’t realize she had an injury. Mindy felt the pain in her back growing worse. She went to a
chiropractor, but found no relief. Ultimately, she met with a surgeon, who found a herniation that would require surgery. Not wanting to sideline her job, she felt she could manage the pain and keep going. Of course, a physical job like hers only brought more pain. By January 2017, she had enough. “ I couldn’t exercise like I once did,” Mindy recalled. “The physical demands of my job became more difficult and it felt like I had to fight with myself just to get up every morning. I wasn’t ‘Mindy’ anymore and that had to change.”
After surgery, Mindy’s body needed three months of physical therapy. Near the end of that period in May 2017,
Jamie Wiltrout, her Cigna vocational coach, called to offer assistance with getting Mindy what she needed to
help her return to work. Every customer’s needs are different and Mindy needed a training program to rebuild her
strength as well as help managing the process to return to work with her employer.
One of the training programs Jamie offered was the Cigna customer referral program with Achilles International, anon-profit organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities participate in athletic events. Cigna partners with organizations like Achilles International to help our customers achieve their health and return to work goals by providing: access to additional rehabilitation resources including ergonomic office equipment, software, education and accommodations to help customers stay safe and be productive at work, encouragement and support, resume review and job placement assistance. The Cigna Customer Referral Program with Achilles International demonstrates Cigna’s promise to partner with customers “Together, All the Way” along their unique health journey. When injury or illness occurs, Cigna helps them get back on track to achieve their goals.
“When Jamie called and shared with me all of resources available to me to help with my return, I just could hardly
believe it,” said Mindy. “I wanted to be who I was and back to the life I was used to living. I want to be whole again.”
With Jamie’s encouragement and the assistance of a personal trainer to build Mindy’s strength and stamina,
Mindy started part time in June 2017 and now on the road to full time in the fall. As a special recognition of
Mindy’s hard work recovering, Cigna offered her the opportunity to participate in the Disneyland 5K on Friday,
September 1.“I’m excited to show what I can do,” said Mindy. “If I can inspire someone else by finishing this race, I would tell them they can do anything.”
“For Cigna customers, participating in a race represents a healthy milestone on the road to recovery, but also independence,” said Jamie. Cigna believes that, as you gain physical strength, you'll also build confidence, which can positively affect all areas of your life, including your work performance.”
“Cigna helps people get their life back. I’m back to my workout routine at 4am and my coworkers can hardly keep up with me. I’m 60 years old going on 40 again!,” said Mindy. “A couple more months and I’ll be all the way back.100% Mindy.”
WOW! I am just amazed at the teamwork that Cigna and Mindy worked so hard on for her recovery. Just look at her now...
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Knowing that our social support goes a long way for others to catch a glimpse into the attention and care that Cigna provides is so meaningful to me.
It was such a Magical opportunity to support Cigna and all the Disneyland Half Runners with our Great Race Scavenger Hunt.
Here are some of the fun challenges and teamwork games that had to be played and accomplished to get our teamwork working at it's best.
The Cigna Great Race was so much entertaining and I am sure that we had a few people laughing with chEARful fun while we ran around DCA!
There were challenges that led to gather teams together to play games to complete tasks too!
Solving riddles and puzzles to get to a question to get to an answer... seriously such a great time with new friends!
Hey there, Stop for some Lunges with Buzz.. why not!
Everyone did a great job and a lot of magical efforts were given by each team... but in the end.. it was Team Daisy for the WIN!
Who knew that educating ourselves on marathon's, fitness, wellness, health, running and more would turn into an amazingly great day... I DID... It's Cigna and Disney!!
Are you interested in the Cigna Disneyland Half or other Run Disney events?! Get all the deets here on how you too can participate in the healthy fun!
Get ready to R-U-N !
Well.... it was a wonderful day filled with a lot of health tips, new friends and a Magical stroll (or Run hehe) through Disney's California Adventure!
Can not wait until the next Cigna Disney Run event... until then.. "this sign dang near sign says it all, as Mater would say, Ha!
Penny
