When Karen Flanagan walks across the finish line of the “Step Up with Walgreens” Challenge on Sat., Oct. 20, she’ll be taking the steps at least 21 pounds lighter.
The Manassas resident reluctantly signed up for the challenge in August, prodded by her daughter, Walgreens employee Fawn Flanagan, and now is in the running for an individual prize worth $500.
“I’ve been trying to lose weight,” said Karen, whose wake-up call came when she went in for a physical this summer, the first since “I can’t remember.” Raising five children and being a grandmother to five more, plus working a physically demanding job as a pet groomer, the 55-year-old had just plain neglected her own health. “So when I walked in Walgreens and Fawn said, ‘Mom, come over here!’ I knew I was in for it.”