MORE than 80 walkers hit the pavements of Bomaderry and Nowra on Monday for the Heart Foundation’s community walk and picnic day to celebrate 20 years of the walking community program.
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“It was a great day,” Heart Foundation regional co-ordinator Andy Mark said.
“As part of Heart Week it was all about getting people out and being more active.”
Participants from Nowra, Bomaderry, East Nowra, Greenwell Point, Ulladulla, Bay and Basin, Kangaroo Valley, Kiama, Gerringong, Dapto and Wollongong took part in the walk.
The walkers met at Bomaderry Oval, walking along Bolong Road to the Princes Highway and then across the Shoalhaven River bridge, before travelling along the walkway at the edge of the Shoalhaven River.
The participants then returned along the walkway, back across the other Shoalhaven River Bridge and back to Bomaderry Oval, a distance of six kilometres.
The walk was followed by a healthy lunch.
“We have a number of walking groups in the Shoalhaven and it’s great to see people getting out there and being active,” Mr Mark said.
“Figures show that more than 50 per cent of people don’t undertake enough physical activity.
“Physical inactivity is a leading contributor to chronic disease in Australia, with an estimated cost of $1.5 billion to the health budget.
“With the help of the local health district we are working to get people more active which will help reduce the prevalence of ill health.
“As well as seeing health benefits, many of our regular participants also talk about social and mental benefits.
“They get to meet, see and talk to people on a regular basis.”
The next activity in the Bomaderry Healthy Town Challenge will be free heart movement classes, to be staged at the Bomaderry Bowling Club each Monday.
The gentle exercise program will be held from 9.30am to 10.30am.
For more information or to register contact the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District health promotion officer Kim Thompson on 4424 6389.
