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For Immediate Release -- May 9, 2008
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK -- OKLAHOMA CITY/May 9, 2008 – In only three weeks, nearly 2,000 Oklahoma City area residents participating in the Get Moving OKC! reward program have walked 66,691 miles or the equivalent of nearly three times around the circumference of the Earth.
Earlier this year the Oklahoma City Community Foundation launched the Get Moving OKC! reward program to encourage adults in central Oklahoma to form walking teams to improve their health. A total of 72 teams representing 1,951 adults signed up in time for the official start of the program on March 30th. Teams were formed at churches, neighborhood associations, employee groups, parent/teacher organizations and nonprofits.
To participate, the team members had to be at least 18 years of age and reside in central Oklahoma. In addition, they had to commit to walk a minimum of 10 miles a week for 13 weeks. The walking had to be in addition to normal daily walking while at home or at work and members cannot exceed 20 miles in a week. The teams who have at least 10 members and up to 25 members successfully complete the program will receive a reward of $100 per person up. That’s a potential $2,500 reward that can be used to benefit a special charitable project or organization.
“We chose to focus on walking because it is the body’s most natural form of exercise and is a great place to start creating a higher level of fitness and overall health,” says Nancy B. Anthony, executive director, Oklahoma City Community Foundation. “We’re already hearing about the difference the program is making in people’s lives.”
Comments from several participants:
“I’ll be forever indebted to the Get Moving OKC program,” says Judi S. “I’ve worked up to two asthmatic wheezy miles per day and plan to continue after the 13 weeks.”
“I usually don’t walk on Wednesdays, because I have to wash my hair. Ha. This morning, I walked because I have two miles to make up on Saturday,” says Julie W. “Before Get Moving, I would have just let it slide. This initiative is keeping me targeted.”
The program concludes on June 29th. For more information including a list of all 72 teams, please visit www.GetMovingOKC.org.
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News Release