Advocate Sherman hosts indoor National Walking Day event April 6

Elgin, Ill. - Advocate Sherman Hospital will celebrate National Walking Day at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, with a ribbon cutting for its new indoor walking path at the hospital campus, 1425 N. Randall Road in Elgin.

The public is welcome to join hospital associates in the main lobby for the ribbon cutting and brisk walk around the quarter-mile path to celebrate walking, fitness and health.

"This is another step toward our vision of leading health in our community," says Linda Deering, president of Advocate Sherman Hospital. "The more we can do to encourage people to make activity a part of daily life, the better chance we will have to preventing illness, keeping people out of the hospital and improving the overall health of the communities we serve."

The indoor path compliments a three-quarter mile outdoor path around Sherman's geothermal lake, which is certified by the American Heart Association and is open to the public. The hospital also hosts a community garden to help people grow organic fruits and vegetables and has altered its cafe menu to provide healthier food and beverage options.

This kickoff event also goes hand in hand with Elgin Mayor David Kaptain's Walking Challenge, which encourages the Elgin community to walk 210,000,000 steps or more total between April 6 and May 18, which is National Employee Health and Fitness Day. This works out to being 1,000 or more people walking five times a week at 7,000 steps per day. To register for the challenge go to www.activateelgin.walkertracker.com.

National Walking Day is sponsored by the American Heart Association to remind people about the health benefits of taking a walk. They encourage people to wear sneakers to work (or have them on hand) and at some point in the day to take a 30-minute walk.

For information on National Walking Day event at Sherman Hospital, call the Public Affairs & Marketing Department at (224) 783-8427.