Walk with the Mayor kicks off May 20

Elgin Fresh Market, Activate Elgin, and the City of Elgin invite all Elgin residents to join the mayor and his guest walkers this summer as they encourage all residents to adopt a healthier lifestyle by getting out and walking.

The Mayor's walks begin at 6:30 p.m. and last approximately 45 minutes as they walk through various neighborhoods throughout Elgin.

Everyone that participates in each walk will have the opportunity to win one of four $25 Elgin Fresh Market gift cards that will be awarded at each walk.

The first walk of 2015 will be held on Wednesday, May 20, in the Sunset Park neighborhood.

The starting point of the walk will be Zeigler's Ace Hardware.

Mayor Kaptain's guest walker will be David Zeigler of Ace Hardware.

Joining them will be various community leaders and city staff who can answer resident questions related to their neighborhood.

An average sized person will burn approximately 200 calories on a brisk 45-minute walk. Research has shown that just 30 minutes of walking, five times a week is enough to improve your overall health from decreasing the symptoms of diabetes and depression to increasing bone density to preventing cancer.

Activate Elgin is a community-based initiative focused on providing residents with opportunities to improve their health, well-being, and overall quality of life. Activate Elgin partners include Kane County Health Department, Northern Illinois University, Judson University, Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin Area School District U-46, Presence St. Joseph Hospital, Advocate Sherman Hospital, South Elgin Parks and Recreation, Elgin Parks and Recreation, Golden Corridor Family YMCA, Harvest Bible Chapel, and Elgin Fresh Market.

The walks continue on June 3 through the Randall Ridge subdivision, starting at Randall Ridge Park, 2835 Winchester Drive, and on June 17, at South East Elgin, starting at the Izaak Walton Center, 899 Jay St., with Hanover Township Supervisor Brian McGuire. On July 1, walkers will travel through The Settlement, starting at Clara Howard Park, 448 Fremont St., and on July 15, through Shadow Hill, starting at Shadow Hill Park, 340 Cassidy Lane. On Aug. 5, the walk will travel the Gifford Park neighborhood, starting at Gifford Park, 355 DuPage St., and on Aug. 19, through the Near West area, starting at St. Edward Central Catholic School's main entrance, 335 Locust St. On Sept. 2, travel through the Trout Park neighborhood, starting at Trout Park, 576 Trout Park Blvd., and on Sept. 16, at College Green South, starting at Grace Evangelical Church, 1800 Bowes Road.

For more on Activate Elgin, visit activateelgin.org or follow the initiative on Facebook or Twitter.

Visit www.cityofelgin.org or follow City of Elgin on Facebook or Twitter.