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Trail Walk Fits With National Program

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By MEGAN HUSSEY

Tribune correspondent

Published: September 11, 2008

DADE CITY - "Family, fitness and fun" is the focus of an event scheduled 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at The Hardy Trail in Dade City. STEPtember, part of a national project hosted by America On the Move, encourages fitness walking as a means to achieve optimum health.

The Pasco County Health Department and Sunrise Rotary Club of Dade City have partnered to co-sponsor this event on a local level, with help from Sunrise Rotary's $2,000 grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield. The grant was supplemented by matching funds from Rotary.

"Walking is a great way to exercise and to decrease the chance of chronic diseases such as heart attack, stroke and diabetes," said Deanna Krautner, public information officer and health education consultant for the Pasco County Health Department. "Also through this event, we want to celebrate the trail and let people know it's there."
STEPtember participants will meet Saturday morning at the trailhead at Church Avenue near the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce. Aside from the walk, the event will feature giveaways, a clown for children and a demonstration of a fitness technique known as pole walking.

"This is a method developed by cross-country skiers," Krautner said.

She said Saturday's walk is the first "step" in the STEPtember plan. At the event, walkers can pick up logs that will allow them to monitor their physical activity for a six-week period.

Next week, two complete fit stations with exercise equipment, signage directing people to the trail and an 8-foot bench will be installed at Hardy Trail, also thanks to the Blue Cross Blue Shield grant.

"The intent in getting the grant was to promote walking and fitness, and to reduce the burden of chronic disease by increased physical activity," Krautner said. "Prevention is much less expensive than treatment."

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