| Walk with Me in the Berkshires: Millions of Steps, Hundreds of Thousands of Miles for Better Health |
| July 1, 2010 For Immediate Release BHS Walk with Me in the Berkshires Program: Hundreds of Millions of Steps, Hundreds of Thousands of Miles Walked PITTSFIELD, MA – The Berkshire Health Systems Walk with Me in the Berkshires program wrapped up its eighth year in June, and statistics show that the majority of participants regularly increased their level of walking or other step-related exercise throughout the six week program. The popular BHS program featured 2,729 participants, split into two components, one for the community and one for BHS employees and their family members. Between the two sides of the program, nearly 873 million steps were recorded, or over 436,000 miles, based on an average of 2,000 steps per mile. The average weekly step count increased by over 40% per participant compared to the week before, meaning the majority of participants continually increased their exercise level each week for better health. Walk with Me in the Berkshires ran from mid April to the end of May. A total of 230 teams participated in the 2010 program, with walkers hailing from 31 Berkshire County communities and three states – Massachusetts, New York and Vermont. The program featured free pedometers for participants, who, on a weekly basis, reported their step counts through an online system. Sponsors for the 2010 Walk with Me in the Berkshires program included Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Hillcrest Commons Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Mt. Greylock Extended Care, Fairview Commons Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Kimball Farms of Lenox, Kimball Farms Nursing Care Center, Williamstown Commons Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, North Adams Commons Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Troy's Promotions, the Pittsfield Senior Center/Council on Aging and Iberkshires.com. Honorary chairmen for the program were Pittsfield Mayor James Ruberto and North Adams Mayor Richard Alcombright. |
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