WVU Medicine Camden Clark employees step up for ‘100 Miles in 100 Days’ campaign
Around 20 employees at the WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center kicked off the annual “100 Miles in 100 Days” Walking Campaign on Wednesday. People are encouraged to walk a mile a day for the next 100 days to promote exercise and better health. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
Around 20 employees of the WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center walked a mile Wednesday in the employee parking lot to kickoff the annual “100 Miles in 100 Days” Walking Campaign on Wednesday. The campaign encourages people to exercise by walking. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
Employees at the WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center started the annual “100 Miles in 100 Days” Walking Campaign on Wednesday by walking the first mile in the employee parking lot before returning to work. The campaign is to motivate people to take the time to exercise. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
Around 20 employees at the WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center kicked off the annual “100 Miles in 100 Days” Walking Campaign on Wednesday. People are encouraged to walk a mile a day for the next 100 days to promote exercise and better health. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
Around 20 employees of the WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center walked a mile Wednesday in the employee parking lot to kickoff the annual “100 Miles in 100 Days” Walking Campaign on Wednesday. The campaign encourages people to exercise by walking. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
Employees at the WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center started the annual “100 Miles in 100 Days” Walking Campaign on Wednesday by walking the first mile in the employee parking lot before returning to work. The campaign is to motivate people to take the time to exercise. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
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PARKERSBURG -- WVU Medicine Camden Clark kicked off its annual "100 Miles in 100 Days" Walking Campaign on Wednesday.
Around 20 people kicked off the campaign in the employee parking lot, located behind Camden Clark Medical Office Buildings A and B, and Parkersburg Cardiology Associates, walking the first mile.
The 15-week walking program, which runs through Aug. 29, encourages people at the medical center and throughout the community to walk a mile a day for 100 days to promote exercise and better health.
"We are here to kick off the annual … campaign the whole health system does," said Pat Perine, Fitness/Exercise Coordinator at WVU Medicine Camden Clark Health and Wellness Center. "It is to promote walking and to get people to walk one mile each day for the next 100 days to promote health and wellness.
"Walking is important for wellness and great for health and cardiovascular fitness and de-stressing. You can do it anywhere and don't need any specialized equipment for it. You can walk anywhere. It is a great benefit for overall health."
More than 6,200 WVU Medicine employees participated in the Walk 100 Miles in 100 Days program in 2022, making it the largest exercise program in the state, hospital officials said.
Hospital officials say that teams within the hospital compete with each other as well as people around the community. Hospital employees who participate also see some benefits on their insurance coverage.
With spring and warm weather settling in it gets people wanting to go outside and do something, Perine said.
"Walking is an easy way to add exercise into people's lives," he said.
The event allows everyone to exercise, even if they aren't a runner, weightlifter or involved in other sports.
"You should be able to get out and take a nice walk," said Louie Haer, Director of the WVU Medicine Camden Clark Health and Wellness Center "It is something that can help you control your heart rate, your weight, your blood pressure.
"Nothing negative comes from walking."
The biggest excuses they hear is people do not have the time or the weather is bad.
Haer said walking can be apart of anyone's life. If people can get started, they develop the habit of doing it regularly.
"The key is getting out and moving," he said. "You can't let things deter you from exercising and taking care of yourself.
"I don't care who you are, your quality of life improves with exercise."
One of the goals of the campaign is to get people out and moving this summer, said Dr. Shari Vance, Camden Clark Chief Medical Officer. When people can exercise with someone else, it helps motivate them, she added.
"It is good for heart health, weight control, muscle strength and more," Vance said. "There really is no downside to exercise.
"We want to encourage everyone to be healthier."
Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com