09/14/04

BINGHAMTON, NY - The Broome County Health Department's Steps to a Healthier New York Initiative, invites everyone to participate in a "BC Walks" event by taking a walk through downtown Binghamton on Thursday, September 16th, at noon with Broome County Executive Jeff Kraham and members of the Centers for Disease Control and the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

"Broome County is extremely proud of the progress that our Health Department and their partners have made in just one year in the fight against obesity, diabetes and asthma. It is an honor to have been chosen by the New York State Department of Health as the showcase site in New York State for a successful Steps to a Healthier New York Initiative," said Broome County Executive Jeff Kraham.

The Steps to A Healthier NY Initiative is a cooperative program agreement through the New York State Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and the Department of Health and Human Services. This program is aimed at helping Broome County residents live healthier, longer, better lives by reducing the burden of obesity, diabetes and asthma through existing, science based community interventions. One of the highlighted interventions to be demonstrated on Thursday is the "BC Walks" program.

"BC Walks" is a proven effective, community based intervention funded by the Steps to a Healthier NY, through a subcontract with United Health Services Stay Healthy Center. It is designed to promote increased physical activity and reduce the burden of heart disease, cancer and diabetes linked to being overweight. It is an eight-week walking program, with a media component aimed at communicating a simple but important health message: regular walking can provide energy; help people feel better; and improve overall health. "Making walking a regular activity does not cost anything and it doesn't take up too much time," said the County Executive.

The goal of "BC Walks" is to prompt local residents to walk 10 minutes a day or more, gradually building up to 30 minutes everyday. In 2003, BC walks reached it's goal of enrolling 10,000 residents.

This year, the challenge added to "BC Walks" was to enhance and expand on the existing program by opening up the enrollment to school children of Broome County. We anticipated reaching at least 5,000 residents since the new phase of the program began in June, as of August close to 6,000 school aged children enrolled along with almost 2,000 adults. "Both the message and method of this campaign are distinctive," said United Health Services President Peter McGinn. "Unlike many health campaigns that try to change a person's lifestyle, this campaign is offering people one simple painless activity that will yield significant health benefits."

According to the Centers for Disease Control, less than 25% of Broome County residents engage in some type of regular physical activity. Lack of regular physical activity is a substantial risk factor for the development of chronic diseases. The rate of cancer, diabetes and heart disease in Broome County residents is higher than rates of these diseases for residents of Upstate New York as a whole.

"The benefits of walking are both mental and physical," said Claudia Edwards Broome County's Public Health Director. "Walking reduces stress, increases metabolism, provides energy, reduces the risk of chronic diseases and assists in the prevention of osteoporosis. Do it for yourself, do it for your health," encourages Ms. Edwards.

To be part of the "BC Walks" program, you may join us as we "Kraham" in a walk at lunchtime on Thursday, September 16th at noon. The walk will start on the front lawn of the Broome County Court House with a proclamation by Broome County Executive Jeff Kraham. It will proceed down Court Street to Exchange Street, turn right onto Hawley Street, right onto Collier Street and back to the front lawn of the Broome County Court House. Alight and health lunch will be provided by Subway and Crowley Foods, to go.

For more information on the walk with Jeff Kraham please contact Therese Haines at 607.778.2109 or Mary McFadden at 607.778.3929. To enroll in the "BC Walks" campaign and have the opportunity to win great prizes, go to the website: www.bcwalks.com, or www.broomesteps.org.

CONTACT:
Mary McFadden
office: 607.778.3929Therese Haines
office: 607.778.2109

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