Pike AAA Streetwalkers
Place 1st in
D.E.W. Program

Nine teams logged more than 5,600 miles in ten weeks by walking, biking, and jogging through the D.E.W. Walking Program.

"This was our first attempt at organizing a walking program and we felt it was very successful," says Nancy Grotevant, Family Educator with Penn State Cooperative Extension in Pike County. "Along with Regina Moore, PA Dept of Health, Pike County Community Health Nurse, we registered 45 Pike County residents for the program. Within the first month, teams had surpassed our wildest expectations."

The goal of D.E.W. (Drop Everything and Walk) was to motivate people to walk an average of one mile a day for a 10 week period. "But what we found was that a little healthy competition spurred many teams to surpass this goal and teams walked far more than the minimum we had set", says Grotevant.

"An example of this is the first place team, the Pike Area Agency on Aging Streetwalkers. In this 10 week period they logged 964 miles, an average of 96 miles a week or 19 miles per week per team member, which made them the winning team."

Other team placements were: 2nd place - Road Warriors; 3rd place -Team CEO; 4th place - Wandering Soles; 5th place - Happy Hoofers; 6th place - Court Jesters; 7th place - Wacky Walkers; 8th place - The Probation Pacers; and 9th place - Woodland Wanders. Also, Ingrid McKean of the Wandering Soles topped the list as the walker who logged the most miles - 286 miles, with Robin LoDolce logging 280 miles and Joe Sweeney coming in 3rd with 246 miles.

"Taking part in routine, physical activity has several health benefits," Grotevant says. "We offered this program as a fun way to educate people about those health benefits and encourage residents to establish exercise habits today that will make them feel better, live well, and motivate them to continue to exercise each and every day."

If you would like to receive information about the upcoming Fall Walking Program contact the Pike County Cooperative Extension Office by phone at 570-296-3400, by fax at 570-296-3406, or by e-mail at PikeExt@psu.edu (be sure to include your name and surface mail address) or the PA Department of Health, Pike County Office at (570) 296-6512.