WalkWorks downtown health program returns

Randy Griffith, The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.
·2 min read

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The statewide fitness program WalkWorks is returning to downtown Johnstown this summer with WalkWorks at noon Wednesdays through July 3.

Every week, those working, living and visiting downtown are invited to meet near the Cambria County Library and walk together over a well-marked 1.8-mile or a one-mile route through the business district.

“It will provide a great opportunity for participants to get exercise, meet new people and share ideas,” Allie Byers, spokeswoman for local sponsor Center for Population Health, said in a press release.

The idea behind the statewide WalkWorks program is to increase access and opportunities for physical activities while educating the public about the relevance and benefits of safe and accessible walking, biking, public transit and all forms of active mobility for people throughout the state, the Department of Health’s WalkWorks webpage says. The health value of walking and physical activity is backed by data from the past 40 years, Conemaugh Physicians Group cardiologist Dr. Vinod Kudagi said.

“Honestly, exercise is more important than medicine,” Kudagi said.

As director of Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center’s cardiac cath lab, Kadagi urges all heart patients to remain active or become active again. Both have been shown to reduce health risks and improve mortality.

Improved mortality is associated with exercise and physical activity across the board, he said, listing heart attack, stroke, cancer and diabetes.

Any additional activity improves health outlook, but persistence increases the effect.

“It doesn’t mean you are going to the gym four times a week,” Kudagi said. “But the more exercise you do, the longer you live.”

Statewide sponsors include the health department and the Pennsylvania Downtown Center. Locally, the Center for Population Health and the Recreation Economic Committee of the Cambria Regional Chamber collaborate to bring the event to the streets.

This year, organizers have added a step challenge and Facebook hashtags to connect on social media.

The StepUp app will be used to compile all of the walkers’ daily steps. The top three finishers will each receive a prize.

Using the hashtags #CaSoWalkWorks and #CenterforPopHealth, local participants can post their photos on Facebook to share their activities. Those who can’t join the downtown walks can walk where they are and post their hash-tagged photos on Facebook

“We’re looking forward to this year’s step challenge, WalkWorks and the Facebook hashtags,” Byers said. “We’re hoping that the step challenge will entice more people to take part in this healthy challenge, especially since we will have prizes for the top three finishers.”

More information is available by contacting Byers at abyers@centerforpophealth.org.