October 5, 2020—Brigham Health and Cigna announce the successful completion of the 2020 Step Up for Stepping Strong challenge, a month-long program held in September in which 3,242 participants from 40 teams took 555 million collective steps in support of trauma survivors. In honor of the community's virtual participation, and surpassing the 500 million steps goal, Cigna is making a $100,000 gift to support The Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
The Stepping Strong Center fuels trauma research and care to benefit civilians and military personnel worldwide who have suffered from the devastation of traumatic injuries. Audrey Epstein Reny, together with her family, established the center at the Brigham to honor her daughter, Gillian, a survivor of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. "The Step Up for Stepping Strong program brings the global community together with a common purpose of turning tragedy into hope for survivors of traumatic injuries," says Reny. "In a year when the COVID-19 pandemic has made it challenging to be united, it was especially inspiring to see so many people take part all across the world."
Through the combined efforts of the Stepping Strong Center, Brigham Health, and Cigna, the presenting sponsor, participants learned about the societal impact of trauma; received health, wellness, and nutrition information; and were encouraged to do their part to help reach the 500 million step collective goal.
"Step up for Stepping Strong continues to be a powerful way to inspire members of the community to make healthy lifestyle choices while supporting the great work of the Stepping Strong Center," says Mark Butler, president for Cigna's New England market. "Cigna is pleased and proud to once again step up to support the physical and emotional recovery of people who have survived traumatic injury."
Brigham Health President Betsy Nabel, MD, adds, "We are grateful to Cigna for their continued support of our Step Up for Stepping Strong program. Our shared commitment to healthy lifestyles and transforming the lives of trauma survivors has never been stronger."
