Fitness, food and fun makes Community Summer Walking Challenge kick off event a success
By Jennifer R. Demuth
April 26, 2011
413
Nearly 150 Tuscarawas County residents, and even Freckles the Clown, registered to participate in Fit Youth Initiatives seventh annual Community Summer Walking Challenge at a kick off event hosted by Hennis Care Centre of Dover on the evening of Thursday, April 21.
The free event found county residents young and not so young participating in a variety of fun activities from Kids Turbo Kick to Silver Sneakers and walking to Zumba, demonstrating that fitness can be fun.
Linda Krupa, program assistant in Family & Consumer Sciences for Tuscarawas Countys Office of OSU Extension, noted, This years kick off event provided a variety of opportunities for participants to get a taste of some different types of activities. Walking is something that just about everyone can do to be active, but it is most important for individuals to find activities they really and truly enjoy doing so they will stick with them. Those who took part in the exercise classes enjoyed them immensely. The Hennis staff made the walk outside not only beautiful, but whimsical and interactive, even including a 4-H is awesome space complete with bunnies.
Karen Jablonski, of Dover, was happy to register this year. She said the walking challenge provides extra encouragement to get outside and enjoy the nice weather during spring and summer. Tuscarawas County Commissioner Chris Abbuhl and his wife also registered for the challenge, and Abbuhl commended the OSU Extension office (which facilitates Fit Youth Initiative) for encouraging county organizations and residents to get active. Its important that everyone get out and exercise in one form or another, he shared. This community summer walking program is a good way to encourage activity.
Those at the kick off event enjoyed healthy snacks prepared by Hennis Chef Brian Sarty and received health and fitness information from OSU Extension/Fit Youth Initiative, Canoe the Tusc, Dover Public Library, Healthy Tusc, Norma Johnson Center, Second Sole, Super Fitness, Tuscarawas County Public Library, Tuscarawas County YMCA and Twin City Hospitals Fit for Life program.
Other major sponsors are Ten Lakes Center, Uhrichsville Water Park, Union Hospital and the village of Dennison. The main goal of the challenge is to encourage everyone to be more physically active, shared Krupa. Children need at least 60 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week, and adults need at least 30 minutes for weight maintenance or 60 minutes or more to help promote weight loss.
Participants who signed up for the summer walking challenge at the event received their walking trackers and program instructions. Beginning May 1, county residents will be able to register for the walking challenge at all of the countys public libraries, Tuscarawas County YMCA, Twin City YMCA, Tuscarawas County Health Department and Super Fitness. Participants are encouraged to track their walking from May 1 to August 1, and those who walk at least 30 hours and return their trackers to the OSU Extension office by August 4 will earn a T-shirt. Additionally, participants can earn a toe token for every three hours of walking time. The free summer walking challenge is open to anyone ages 3 and older, and registration will end June 15.
For more information about the Community Summer Walking Challenge, which has grown from just 50 participants during its first year in 2005 to as many as 2,400 participants in recent years, contact Krupa at the OSU Extension office at 330-339-2337.
