Cincinnati--Not everyone can appear on the hit TV series The Biggest Loser, so Drake Center employees decided to create their own program in an effort to live healthier lifestyles. Tomorrow at noon, the much anticipated "Biggest Loser" (for the current session) will be announced and awarded $400 cash.

 The 12-week program costs each employee $25, and all money collected is awarded to a first and second place "loser" at the end of each session. On average about 20 Drake employees participate in each series. The group holds weekly meetings to support each other, share recipes and other success tips.

Sherry Gibbemeyer, an assessment nurse at Drake, and previous two-time winner of Drake's Biggest Loser has been an inspiration to many. Sherry has lost more than 60 pounds since May of 2008 and has won over $500 cash.

View photo of this year's and previous Biggest Loser winners.

The Biggest Loser competition has been ongoing for nearly two years. January 12 marks the beginning of the 5th series of the Biggest Loser for Drake Center employees. Drake also offers on-site exercise facilities free to all employees as well as healthy menu options in the cafeteria, as well as land and aquatic exercise programs to the community for a fee.

The American Heart Association awarded Drake Center its 2008 Fit-Friendly Company Gold Award for their commitment to providing a healthy workplace for employees and for taking the important steps necessary to create a culture of physical activity for their workforce, and was recognized for this program in the Oct. 27 issue of Forbes magazine.

Drake Center is a not-for-profit, long-term acute care hospital, providing both medically complex and rehabilitative care, as well as skilled nursing, assisted living and various outpatient and wellness services.