Ch.8

People were enthusiastic to join the WHEELING WALKS campaign. Mass media generates a high level of interest. In addition, successful partnerships with groups like worksites, civic organizations, and faith-based communities, encourages participation.

We worked hard to make our events enjoyable. Each event was festive, quick, on-time, and fun. By sticking to the simple message (walk 30 minutes daily) people were looking for us!

A copy of the WHEELING WALKS Registration Form is provided in Appendix 4-a. As noted before, it needs to be available at all events.

People could also register on the Website. This is explained in the next section.

In this high-tech world, a website is a must. It is important to find a competent and affordable web designer to develop the website. The website allowed the public to join the campaign and log their minutes-walked online. This was an easy way to keep records and a great reinforcer for participants.

The WHEELING WALKS website was designed by Idea Giant, a graphic design company in the Wheeling area. We are currently negotiating a flat rate for those who would like to use Idea Giant for campaign website development. Contact Idea Giant at 304-233-1102 ext. 17 for details.

Following are the categories located on the WHEELING WALKS home page. Additional information was available by clicking on suggested links.

Campaign Overview--a brief description of the nature and purpose of the campaign (see Appendix 8-b for Website version).

Weekly Column--The website featured a weekly newspaper column by Dr. Bill Reger. Each week a new article was electronically submitted to the web. A column that appeared on our website during the week of September 9, 2001 is provided in Appendix 8-c. Additional articles in this series are provided in Chapter 11.

8-Week Challenge--Making walking a part of your lifestyle is the goal of WHEELING WALKS. This website section allows the viewer to click on the worksite packet. This packet is arranged in eight-weekly segments. As part of walking 30 minutes or more each day, we encouraged the participant to incorporate walking into his/her lifestyle. For example: Take the stairs instead of the elevator; park 15 minutes from work then walk the rest of the way; walk with your family or your pet. These can easily be accomplished even in a hectic day. Read the information below for more lifestyle changing ideas. (See Appendix 8-c.)

Website Participant Profiles--Each week the website profiled an individual whose life was affected by walking. To reinforce our target population, we profiled individuals in the 50-65 year age range. We asked participants what surprised them most about walking and to share advice with web viewers.

Note: Write your participant profiles as early as possible. This can be completed in advance.

Photo Opportunities Related Articles--Photographs always seem to spark interest and make viewing the website more enjoyable. We included photographs of walk events and “important” people on our website. Each photograph was accompanied by a caption explaining the event.

Note: It is important to have photos available for the media and the website. We suggest you hold an initial photo session prior to the campaign. At this session, ask the photographer take photos of the “important” people (staff, volunteers, participants). Feenerty Photography provided photography services for the WHEELING WALKS campaign.

Related Articles-- Each week an article, written by Dr. Bill Reger, was placed on the website. These articles offered advice to keep participants motivated and walking. These articles also appeared in the local newspaper.

Campaign Calendar of Events--To keep web viewers informed of upcoming events, a WHEELING WALKS Calendar of Events was placed on the website. The dates, times and locations of each event was included. An example of the Website version of the WHEELING WALKS Calendar of Events is provided in Appendix 8-f.

Fun Stuff-- Just for fun, we included a word scramble of walking/fitness terms. You may also want to include a fitness quiz, crossword puzzle or word search.

Register for the Campaign at the Website--This page allowed viewers to register for the WHEELING WALKS Campaign on-line. The following information was requested.

This feature allowed participants to track their own miles and allowed campaign staff to track total participant miles. Participants used this section of the website to enter the minutes they walked each day.

Note: In order to account for the differences in the rate at which people walk, a conversion of 20 minutes/mile was used to change minutes to miles. Miles walked were processed in Microsoft Access and sent, by the web server, to a designated campaign staffer. With assistance from the web designer and a download from “FREEWARE”, we were able to calculate the cumulative number of miles walked for the campaign.

This section of the website proved to be a great tool for measuring campaign success and motivating participants. For example, our worksites, which pledged to walk a specific number of miles for the campaign, were able to monitor their progress by simply logging-on. In addition, individual participants enjoyed tracking the number of minutes they walked and comparing them with others they met at our events.

Logging Your Minutes is a Great Walking Enforcer! The website is a valuable campaign tool. Design it well and it will serve you well.

Dr. Reger’s September 9, 2001 WEEKLY COLUMN in the (Wheeling) Sunday News Register. See additional articles in Chapter 10.

Time is the single biggest barrier to regular walking. Our lives are busy, our schedules are crowded, and we have more to do than we can ever accomplish. So how can we ever find the time in our schedules to walk? I have had so many of my friends tell me that the last thing they need is another 30-minute daily activity. Most of us realize that walking every day will benefit out our health and wellness. However, we struggle to find the time.

I believe we become too focused on the barriers. As a strategy to overcome the barriers, give yourself a month of fitting walking into your life religiously. Make the commitment and see what happens. I can almost guarantee you that your mind will follow your body, that is the barriers will diminish. When we question people on the telephone, we find that at they begin walking, they no longer see obstacles in the same way.

Break the 30 minutes into three ten-minute segments. Take ten minutes in the morning, ten minutes at lunch, and another ten minutes prior to getting into the car to go home.

I also recommend learning more and more about the benefits of walking. When we have a reason to do something, we have a way of finding the resources to make it happen. We live our values.

Reading this column may not be exposing you to great (or even good) literature. However, simply reading about a healthy behavior has been shown to help motivate people to perform that behavior. The more they learn about it, the easier it is to do it. Simply spending the three minutes to browse this column may change your life, even if the change is imperceptible.

You can find daily exercise tips in the newspaper, on TV, or on the radio. Pay attention. The more receptive you are to their message, the more likely you are to change your life for the better.

Make Walking a Part of Your Lifestyle

Click Here to Take our 8-Week Challenge

Make Walking a Part of Your Lifestyle
WHEELING WALKS Challenge: Week #1

Because you are busy and there is always more to do than there is time to do it, it is important to make walking a part of your day…not something in addition to all the things already on your “to do list”. Schedule time for walking, like you schedule all of your other important appointments. For example: Take the stairs instead of the elevator; park 15 minutes from work then walk the rest of the way; walk with your family or your pet.

The Wonders of Walking!
WHEELING WALKS Challenge: Week #2

Learn the Benefits of Walking and to Understand the Benefits of Proper Footwear. It’s simple! Walking doesn’t require a huge investment – other than a good pair of shoes. You can do it anywhere, any time, in any weather! It doesn’t require any special skill, talent or equipment. You can do it by yourself, or with others. It’s easy to increase the intensity of walking as your fitness level improves.

Stretching
WHEELING WALKS Challenge: Week #3

The Week 3 Challenge is to learn proper stretching techniques and to stretch daily. Warm-up by walking normally for 5 minutes to increase your heart rate slowly. Then for 20 minutes walk briskly, remain erect, taking full strides and swinging your arms easily. Cool down with a 5-minute slow walk to lower your pulse safely. Stretch for 2-3 minutes at the end of your walk.

What’s Blocking You? Part1
WHEELING WALKS Challenge Week #4

Develop an understanding of how common roadblocks can prevent you from being physically active. This week write down what your main roadblocks are and think about how you can overcome them! Brainstorm with a friend.

Are You Low on H2O?
WHEELING WALKS Challenge Week #5

Whether you’re just beginning a physical activity routine, or you’re an avid runner training for a marathon, water should be your number one liquid of choice… and lots of it! We recommend at least 4 ounces of water for every 20 minutes you walk. During summer’s hot, humid days, adequate water intake is even more important.

What's Blocking You? Part 2
WHEELING WALKS Challenge Week #6

Call a friend. Set up an appointment to walk. Map out a detour to each of your major roadblocks. The most important thing is to start. Walking is as close as we’ve come to a magic bullet to improve health. This week go for a walk with your family!

Get Off the Couch!
WHEELING WALKS Challenge Week #7

“Couch potatoes” are a bumper crop in this country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that less than 25 percent of adults exercise at the level recommended by the Surgeon General. And our kids are inactive, too. But most people know that physical activity offers tremendous health benefits. Regular walking is good for everyone – young children and senior citizens; men and women, people of all races and ethnic backgrounds benefit from regular and moderate walking.

Ways to keep Moving Forward
Lets Get Walking Challenge Week #8

Even though the Let’s Get Walking Challenge is coming to an end…your lifelong habit of walking has just begun. Use this as the start to a lifelong commitment to walking and taking better care of you. In the long run, small changes really do add up and finding ways to make walking part of your daily routine is the best strategy to success

Week 1: Nancy Toto

Name:             Nancy Ann Toto
Age:                59
Occupation:    Co-owner Toto’s Service Center

The first individual to sign-on to the WHEELING WALKS 30 Minutes or More Challenge is Nancy Toto from Belmont, Ohio. Nancy is a breast cancer survivor and recognizes what a gift good physical health is! Nancy and her husband Mitch have been married since 1960, raised three children, and now have five grandchildren. Nancy says, “There’s not enough hours in the day to do everything we want to do. Regular walking gives me the energy to get things done.” Nancy has a love for life that comes through whenever you talk to her.

Why do you walk? “There are so many reasons but Taking Control is the most important. Taking care of myself the best way I can and knowing I’m doing everything I can to be a healthy person (physically and mentally) is important. It is also my own special time to Thank God for all of my blessings.”

Why do you love walking? “Walking through the four seasons is why I love it! Every season has its own beauty and wonder. I look forward to all of them! And I feel it is an absolute privilege to do so.”

What is your toughest obstacle to walking? “I volunteer for so many organizations that some days there’s no time left for me. But I am changing that. I am cutting back and taking the time for myself. I’m Worth It!”

What is your best advice for new walkers? “Don’t think of it as a chore, but as a privilege. Time that you DESERVE for yourself. Only 30 minutes a day! Everyone deserves that!”

What is the coolest benefit of walking? “It doesn’t cost anything and the rewards are something you can’t buy.”

What is your biggest surprise about walking? “I think of walking like I do brushing my teeth or taking a shower – I don’t feel right unless I do it every day.”

Although somewhat unique in her health concerns, Nancy is like the rest of us. She juggles family, work, and other obligations every day. But unlike a lot of us, Nancy recognizes the importance of walking for her health and well being. She knows that taking the time to keep herself healthy is as important for her as it is for her family. Nancy is an inspiration to the WHEELING WALKS 30 Minutes or More Challenge. We thank her for joining our campaign and hope that her story will help all of us to Take The Time To Walk Thirty Minutes Or More Every Day!