Florida Hospital Employees Start Walking to Live Longer

Florida Hospital Employees Start Walking to Live Longer

Florida Hospital's Healthy 100 Employee Walk encourages fitness and health

ORLANDO, Fla., - April 7, 2010 - More than 1,000 Florida Hospital employees at seven of the hospital's campuses and two office complexes took advantage of a beautiful day and hit the sidewalk, walking to live to a Healthy 100.  Doctors, nurses, and other Florida Hospital employees laced up their walking shoes as part of Florida Hospital's Healthy 100 initiative that is designed to create a culture of health and wellness among employees and the community.  A walking route was mapped out at each campus so employees could get some exercise during their lunch or break time.  Workplaces have proven to be important environments to foster a culture for exercise as Americans now work 164 more hours per year than 20 years ago, and jobs have become increasingly sedentary. 

"Healthy 100 is an initiative that encourages our employees and the community to make small lifestyle changes that can have a big impact on the health of the mind, body and spirit," said Sheryl Dodds, Florida Hospital's Chief People Officer.  "Walking is a simple, free, low impact exercise that many people can do; it's a great way to get started."

Florida Hospital employees gathered for the Healthy 100 Employee Walk as part of the American Heart Association's National Start! Walking Day.  Start! is the American Heart Association's national initiative that champions walking because it has the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity.

"We hope this will be just the beginning of an exercise routine for these walkers," said Luanne Lumpkins, Metro Vice President of the American Heart Association.  "We applaud Florida Hospital for taking the lead in encouraging their staff to exercise.  People could gain as much as two years of life for each hour of regular, vigorous exercise."

"Getting out in the fresh air was really invigorating," said Bonnie Halcomb, a Florida Hospital office manager who joined in the walk.  "I appreciate that we have the opportunity to get outside and I want to do this everyday!"

National Start! Walking Day will also kick off Florida Hospital's internal campaign to support the Start! Heart Walk, co - chaired by Florida Hospital's Executive Vice President Brian Paradis. The event will be held on October 2^nd at Loch Haven Park.  

For more information about starting a walking program, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit startwalkingnow.org.  For more information about living longer and to take the longevity calculator, go to www.Healthy100.org.

For media inquiries only, contact Florida Hospital Media Relations at 407-303-8217 or the American Heart Association at 407-481-6305.

About Florida Hospital

Opened in 1908, Florida Hospital is one of the largest not-for-profit hospitals in the country, caring for more than a million patient visits per year - that's more than any other hospital in the country, according to the American Hospital Association.  The more than 2,000-bed system is comprised of eight hospitals and 18 Centra Care locations.

About the American Heart Association

Founded in 1924, we're the nation's oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. To help prevent, treat and defeat these diseases - America's No. 1 and No. 3 killers - we fund cutting-edge research, conduct lifesaving public and professional educational programs, and advocate to protect public health. To learn more or join us in helping all Americans, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit americanheart.org.

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