Just one year ago, Bestmed Medical Scheme’s marketing and sales chief Chris Luyt didn’t own a bike, let alone compete on one.
Bestmed marketing and sales executive Chris Luyt has transformed into a competitive cyclist. Photo: Supplied
Today, the executive has transformed into a walking advertisement for the company’s new health currency initiative, HealthBucks™.
He said that his motivation was the Bestmed Tour of Good Hope, a gruelling five-day international road cycling tour covering more than 530km through the scenic Boland in early March.
Luyt said that Team HealthBucks were one of 22 teams in the amateur category.
“I found it tough, especially since I have never done five consecutive days of cycling.
Luyt, 45, has “always had a passion for cycling”, but last competed at university.
“Getting fit, participating in events and making new friends has been great fun.”
His decision to change his lifestyle dove-tailed with the company’s virtual currency plan, which is in its pilot phase and due to roll out to more than 95 000 Bestmed members soon.
Luyt said the currency was points-based, and a point could be redeemed for a rand value item at participating suppliers.
Team HealthBucks earned points for every stage of the Tour of Good Hope, which enabled them to donate more than R20 000 to the Clicks Helping Hand Trust (CHHT), who assist disadvantaged mothers.
“Bestmed did not sponsor Team HealthBucks, but many of the members are part of the group working on making it a success,” said Luyt.
“At Bestmed we aim to provide a funding model where people can gain access to the best healthcare professionals and facilities.”
Luyt said people spent, on average, 80 per cent of their life’s healthcare in the last 10 years of their lives.
Several negative factors impacted on the general state of South African health, he said.
“Convenience food is a big issue. The World Health Organisation consider South Africans, on average, to be grossly obese.”
He said that during a recent Captains of Industry colloquium in Cape Town, international examples were cited in which the spread of obesity was compared to the spread of contagious disease.
“Research cited by Dr Christo du Preez indicated that if your best friend is overweight, for example, you have a 90 per cent chance of also being overweight. The same applies to spouses.”
Luyt said Bestmed’s focus was keeping their medical scheme solvent and sustainable, goals only achievable if more research was done on the link between lifestyle and disease.
The scheme’s ‘wellness solution’ was based on five pillars – Be Safe, Be Active, Be Nutri-wise, Be Fin-fit and Be Happy – and these criteria would be used for earning HealthBucks, said Luyt.
“Leading by example is often easier said than done. We encourage our members to live according to the five wellness pillars and, as a member and employee, I’ve instilled them into my own life.
“Without these pillars, I probably wouldn’t have been able to compete in the Tour of Good Hope.”
