Thousands of Albertans will be stepping out on Feb. 8 to help maintain a healthy, active lifestyle as part of Winter Walk Day.
New for 2012 is a province-wide photo contest to accompany the event.
“We have a new photo contest sponsored by AMA. Organizers will submit photos or videos of their events and one per category — school, community, (or) workplace — will win $500,” said Bev Esslinger, executive director of SHAPE Alberta, and Winter Walk Day co-ordinator. “Alberta Blue Cross is a new sponsor partner.”
Winter Walk Day is an annual event encouraging Albertans to walk for a minimum of 15 minutes outdoors. This year’s goal is to have 120,000 Albertans walking a combined total of 1.5 million minutes. Walking is a simple and economical way to incorporate physical activity into daily routines. Studies have shown that accumulating even small amounts of exercise throughout the day can have a positive effect on overall health.
“We began Winter Walk Day in 2007 and it is steadily growing. Last year we had over 100,000 participants and this year we have to have at least 120,000. We have inspired Ontario and Nova Scotia and they now have Winter Walk Day as well,” said Esslinger.
Interested participants can register individually or with a group of friends, family, school mates or workplace colleagues as a team.
For more information on how to register or to learn more about Winter Walk Day events happening throughout the entire province, visit www.shapeab.com.
“It is important for us to get regular physical activity and this is one opportunity to get active and be part of something bigger. Our hope is Albertans will see that they can get outside and active even in the winter,” said Esslinger.