A Step In The Right Direction

4/30/08 Posted in Sports  |  0 Comments

By Denise Cook and Ann Kostin-McGill

In September, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Michigan Recreation and Park Association announced an innovative partnership to promote walking as a viable form of exercise and recreation. While each organization has a long existing walking program with its own target market, they have a shared value of health and well-being for Michigan residents.

WalkingWorks® is a noncompetitive national walking program developed by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and promoted at the state level by BCBSM. The objective is to encourage people to take advantage of an activity readily available to virtually anybody and at anytime; it’s also designed to assist employers in developing opportunities for employees to commit to brisk walks during approved work breaks. The philosophy is that a person does not have to spend a lot of money to realize the many health benefits walking has to offer.

Walk Michigan! is a noncompetitive statewide walking program created by MRPA. Given the same objective as BCBSM, Walk Michigan! offers opportunities for community residents to utilize local park and recreation walking trails throughout the state. The philosophy is that in addition to important health benefits there are also significant social benefits, from meeting new community members and participating in a family activity to bonding with a pet that has been alone all day.
The partnership promotes WalkingWorks and Walk Michigan! simultaneously by combining resources and implementing a per market program model throughout the state. BCBSM has committed to a $50,000 sponsorship to support the expansion of both programs, making them available to Michigan communities throughout the state. MRPA brings to the table a strong organizational infrastructure to administer the marketing campaign. The potential outcomes for all stakeholders are astounding. BCBSM and MRPA are joining forces with six regional park and recreation organizations, up to one hundred local park and recreation agencies and forty Michigan corporations.

One of the features of this program model is the coordination of efforts between local P & R agencies and select Michigan companies to create walking opportunities for employees and their families before, during and after work. This both encourages walking and introduces walkers to area parks and recreation facilities they may not have previously considered. Beyond this program, the potential for long-term relationships and further collaboration between P & R agencies and Michigan companies is exciting.

Michigan faces serious challenges when it comes to the overall health of its residents. A recent economic study by Altarum, a nonprofit research institute, compared the health of Michigan’s work force to benchmark states that compete with Michigan for new corporations and jobs. The study found that the health of Michigan’s work force could hinder its ability to compete. The study ranked Michigan:

• Highest in death rates from heart disease
• Second-highest in rates of obesity and diabetes
• Sixth-highest in number of smokers
• Highest prescription drug use

Physical inactivity alone is responsible for the majority of preventable diseases and results in the annual loss of about twenty days per worker. The Michigan Chamber of Commerce reported that member organizations complained that the high cost of health insurance was the greatest threat to their profitability and they wanted help.

Worksites are one of the best places to reach the majority of Michigan’s adult citizens to encourage them to lead a healthy lifestyle. Participating in a walking routine is a step in the right direction. According to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, brisk walking on a regular basis can reduce your risk of a heart attack, decrease your chances of developing diabetes, help control your weight, improve your muscle tone and promote your overall sense of wellness.

This, in essence, is the inspiration for this combined effort kicking off on Thursday, May 22, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the lawn of the State Capitol. Chris Holman steps up to emcee with special appearances by BCBSM health and fitness advocate Ernie Harwell, and BCBSM walking advocate Jodi Davis. Ernie is a former Detroit Tigers announcer and National Radio Hall of Famer, and Jodi is an amazing woman from southwest Michigan who lost 162 pounds in 16 months and changed her life with the help of walking. Everyone is invited to join Ernie and Jodi as they lead Michigan in taking the first step in the right direction for this year’s program.