Join Me This Walktober!

Hello everyone!

In my previous post I shared there is a lot going on in the month of October! Not only is it Breast Cancer Awareness month, but in Jefferson County (Alabama), it is also our October Walking Challenge! The YMCA of Birmingham is teaming up with Champions for Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield 0f Alabama to get people out to start walking!

Champions for Health is an initiative of the Jefferson County Health Action Partnership, a coalition of more than 100 non-profit organizations working alongside the Jefferson County Department of Health to encourage physical activity, reduce obesity, expand food access, advance smoke-free policies, reduce tobacco use and improve the overall health of Jefferson County residents.

After meeting with my running group, Black Girls Run – Birmingham, at Railroad Park this past Saturday morning, we all decided to get involved by committing  throughout the month of October on this challenge. The mission is to reach 250,000 miles by getting people to get out and walk!

I read an article that stated that Alabama is one of the “laziest” states.

According to the CDC:

States where residents are the least likely to be physically active during leisure time are Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Tennessee. In those states, physical inactivity rates are 29.2 percent or greater for more than 70 percent of the counties.

A 2008 CDC survey found that 25.4 percent of U.S. adults did not spend any of their free time being physically active, including activities such as walking for exercise, gardening, golfing or running.

You can register at ChampionsForHealth.org which will lead you to their tracking tool Walking Works. It is a really cool site  that lets you track your monthly and weekly progress. You can also join individually or as a team.

First Lady Michelle Obama is doing an amazing job with her initiative “Let’s Move”  and American’s Move to Raise a Healthier Generation of Kids! It starts with US! Let’s put an end to obesity and promote better health. Let’s all come together as a city and state and show them that we are active! We are going to the moon! Join me this WALKTOBER!!!