From STAFF REPORTS

CORDELE — More than 87 participants from Crisp County joined the largest walking group in the state to take a virtual stroll through Georgia. They took part in the Walk Georgia program.

Walk Georgia is an eight week program sponsored by the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. It is designed to increase a person’s physical activity in a fun, community-oriented way. Goals of the program are to help develop the habit of regular physical activity, have fun, gain support from others, and become more fit. It doesn’t matter if participants are walking, biking or dancing.

So how does one ‘walk’ Georgia? It is quite simple. They go to www.walkgeorgia.org and log in their real time exercise. Taking a walk with the family dog can be logged. Even aerobics classes or that basketball game in the park counts. Once on the website all one has to do is use the dropdown menu and record those extra activities. The time is then translated into miles. The site then gives participants the go-ahead to move around the state.

This is done electronically through an online map where walkers visit the coast or hike the mountains. Participants can also read about each county that they ‘walk’ to and in the process discover new ways to improve their health. Walkers can also see how they compare to other individuals and teams throughout the state.

Participation in Walk Georgia can be done individually or in teams of four. A total of 139 counties all over the state took part in the program.

Crisp County had the largest participation of any non-urban county in the entire state, and the total amount of exercise computed into walking miles logged by residents of Crisp County was 23,405.

The participant average was 269 miles over the eight weeks. Some walkers even logged as many as 400, 500, and even over 900 miles over the duration of the program.

Sandra McKinney, Crisp County Extension coordinator, was the local agent promoting and orchestrating the event for the area. Crisp County’s top team was the Impact Team which included Gina Mackey, Stacey McGarr, Trey McAfee, and Kalah McCoy.

Coming in second was the Mirror Image team composed of Mary Beal, Dorothy Clark, Betty Green, and Vesta Shepard.

“I am the caregiver for my 86 year old mother, and it is so nice to get out and relieve the stress of a long day with a long walk,” says Green

“I am 65 years old and do not require any daily medications for anything. I attribute my good health to walking and getting exercise. It helps keep the weight down and blood pressure under control and is excellent for cardiovascular health. Plus the fellowship and camaraderie of having a partner is very encouraging.”

Green says that she and another member of her team, Mary Beal met at the walking track on the corner of 24th Avenue and 3rd Street. “It’s nice to have a partner to share the time with. Betty and I have so much in common. I am also a caregiver taking care of my 98 year old mother.

“Walking really helps me let go of that day to day stress that can really get your blood pressure on the rise. I am thankful to say that I have never had to take daily medications for any problems. I too credit it to walking and keeping myself healthy.”