Let’s ‘RUN This Town’ off to a good start

WARWICK — On Thursday morning, Sept. 12, approximately 50 local officials and citizens stepped off from the Warwick Valley Community Center, 11 Hamilton Avenue, for Optimal Health Day and to kick off the “Let’s RUN This Town” walk/run/crawl initiative.

In the future the group and any newcomers will meet at the Community Center each Tuesday and Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Participants can choose from the one- to five-mile routes available.

The walk is designed to not only support personal health, but also community health as it brings foot traffic to Warwick merchants. And to thank participants, merchants are offering discounts to walkers with nametags. Healthy snacks will also be available in the teen center following each walk.

The idea to form a free walking club at the Community Center was spearheaded by Take Shape For Life health coach Deb Holton-Smith. She formed a committee that included Karen Thomas, director of the center, Mayor Michael Newhard, Ursula Brown, Pam Grandinali and Paulette Rudy. They named the club, “Let’s RUN This Town.”

“I personally needed motivation to get more exercise,” said Holton-Smith, “and what better way to do that than involving fun folks to walk with. And as a Take Shape For Life health coach, I thought it would be great to start the club in time to celebrate National Optimal Health Day.”

The committee had three weeks to pull off the grand kick-off.

Foot traffic
People’s health was the initial goal, but then it dawned on the founders that they could also include the health of the community by promoting its merchants with foot traffic.

“When passing this idea by Mary Beth of Frazzleberries, Nicole from Etched in Time, Tim and Bob from Style Counsel and Lisa and John Strazza from the Strazza Gallery,” said Holton-Smith, “they all welcomed the proposal to offer Let’s RUN This Town walkers some kind of reward. And in just two days, more than 60 shops, restaurants and services agreed to participate.”

Walkers wearing their sneaker nametag will be honored with a discount on merchandise or other customer benefit. And the club expects to add more merchants from Florida, Greenwood Lake, Pine Island, Sugar Loaf and Warwick. Look for the sneaker placard at participating shops and restaurants.

On kick-off day the Bruderhof Community provided refreshments for the walkers and St. Anthony Community Hospital representatives Barbara Demundo and Jason Rashford were on hand with health education materials.

Essential information
For additional information or to suggest a favorite merchant or restaurant contact Holton-Smith at LRTT@Holton-Smith.com or call 661-9883.

- Roger Gavan