Perry County senior citizens now have a place to walk during the summer months.
In honor of National Senior Health and Fitness Day that took place on Wednesday, the Perry County Senior Center has launched its new Senior Walking Club.
Seniors and other guests are invited to come to the Senior Center Monday-Thursday from 1-2 p.m. to walk in a cool and safe environment free of charge.
“I’m trying to encourage movement and activity among the seniors,” Perry County Senior Center administrator Jennifer Freeman said.
She also hopes that the Walking Club will help with attendance at the Senior Center as well.
“If someone who is not familiar with what we do here wants to come in and walk, they might also decide to come for lunch one day and try it out,” Freeman said. “We are trying to get our name out there.”
This will be the first time the Senior Center has had a Walking Club and Freeman encourages those who participate to bring water bottles. The center will also provide walking logs so people can track how far they walked per week. If a person turns in that log, they can receive a prize.
Freeman said that 26 miles around the center is one mile.
Freeman garnered the idea through a walking class from the Perry County Health Department. Through that program she learned that a walking club was something that was needed.
Freeman is hoping for a lot of participation, but really isn’t sure what to expect.
“I’m hoping to get good response, but if I only get one or two people, or maybe a few more to get more active and continue to move, then I feel like I have reached my goal,” Freeman said.
The program will run through the summer, with the hope that if it successful and enough people participate then it will turn into an ongoing program.
