Contact: Sarah Fedele
336-662-3304;
Sarah.Fedele@heart.org
Posted 4-1-11
GREENSBORO, NC – Staff, students and faculty are sporting their blue and gold and stepping out on Wednesday, April 6, in celebration of National Start! Walking Day.
The walk will begin at 2:41 p.m. to emphasize awareness that for every one hour of exercise a person can gain two hours of life expectancy. The 30-minute walk through the campus will begin at the Minerva statue, off College Avenue in front of Jackson Library.
“Exercise is a two for one deal that we want to make sure that all of our staff and students take advantage of,” says Dr. Kim Sousa-Peoples, director of New Student and Spartan Family Programs.
National Start! Walking Day is part of the American Heart Association’s initiative to improve cardiovascular health through increased physical activity. UNCG is a Gold-Level Start! Fit-Friendly Company and is involved with the American Heart Association’s Guilford Heart and Stroke Walk on Saturday, May 21 at Jaycee/Country Park in Greensboro.
“With the pressures facing college students today, exercise becomes even more important,” shares Dr. Sousa-Peoples. “If we can help them use exercise to reduce stress now, they can continue to use exercise to reduce stress and improve their health throughout their lives.”
The country will be united in walking for wellness on National Start! Walking Day. Increased levels of physical inactivity is a risk factor for both heart disease and stroke, the number one and number three killers in the nation respectively. The American Heart Association recommends 30 minutes of exercise most days a week to help reduce risk factors. Walking has the lowest drop-out rate of any exercise regimen, can be done by most people to varying degrees, is not weather dependent and is free.
For questions please visit www.startwalkingnow.org or e-mail Sarah.Fedele@heart.org.
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About the American Heart Association
Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association today is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and all other cardiovascular diseases claim nearly 870,000 lives a year.
In fiscal year 2006-07, the association invested more than $554 million in research, professional and public education, advocacy and community service programs to help all Americans live longer, healthier lives.
To learn more, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit www.americanheart.org.
