April 15, 2008
'National Start! Walking Day' set for Wednesday
CARBONDALE, Ill. — What better way to celebrate "National Start! Walking Day" than by actually putting one foot in front of the other.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Student Health Center Wellness Center, Student Recreation Center and Student Center, in conjunction with the Saluki Striders Club, are promoting the national movement to get America up and walking with an event on Wednesday, April 16. At noon and 4:30 p.m., SIUC colleagues will meet at either the campus lake boat dock or at the south end of the Student Center to begin a group walk.
The first 50 participants to arrive at the noon walk will get a free pedometer. A raffle and other giveaways are set too.
The goal is to get people up and walking to improve their health. The "Start! Walking Day" is an American Heart Association program to promote walking, since heart disease is the No. 1 in the United States and physical inactivity doubles the risk of heart disease. Just a 30-minute walk each day can improve overall health and well-being.
For more information, look online at http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier-3051188, or contact Michelle McLernon of the SIUC Wellness Center outreach program at 618/453-5227 or via e-mail at mlernon@siu.edu.