WCTF.org Transplant News

National Walk @ Lunch Day(SM) encourages healthier lifestyles

WASHINGTON, April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies nationwide are working with employers of all sizes to get their workers to take steps toward healthier lifestyles. Citing the tremendous cost that inactive lifestyles and preventable health conditions have on the nation's healthcare bill, Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are holding lunchtime walks across America as part of the second annual National Walk @ Lunch Day.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are hosting the walks in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to engage employees, members and community leaders in healthy activities to promote the benefits of walking. Nationwide, thousands of walkers from companies, organizations, state and local governments are participating in this healthy initiative.

Regular, brisk walking is one of the simplest and safest forms of physical exercise and a regular walking program can help control weight, condition the heart and lungs, strengthen bones and help you take the first step to a healthier future. Regular walking also has other positive impacts on health, including decreasing the risk of a heart attack, reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, helping to control weight and improving muscle tone.

"More than 60 percent of all adults in our country do not engage in the recommended amount of physical activity," said Scott P. Serota, president and CEO of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA). "This lack of regular physical exercise can lead to illness and chronic diseases down the road. National Walk @ Lunch Day is not only an opportunity for Americans to step outside and take a lunchtime walk, but it is an opportunity to join the Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies in leading a call to action for the nation to embark on a path to a healthier lifestyle."

In Washington, D.C., CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program employees are joining the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in co-hosting a National Walk @ Lunch Day event at the Hubert H. Humphrey building for federal government employees.

"Modern medical science gives every one of us the opportunity to be among the healthiest people who've ever lived," said Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Tevi Troy. "But if you want to live a long and healthy life, you also have to eat well, avoid risky behaviors, and exercise regularly. We at HHS are encouraging people to make these smart choices, and it's great to see private companies doing this as well."

Nationwide, hundreds of companies, organizations, state and local governments are hosting or participating in National Walk @ Lunch Day events across the country such as Emerson Hospital in Concord, Massachusetts, and Kayser-Roth Corporation in Greensboro, North Carolina.

"Emerson Hospital is committed to the health and well-being of our employees," said Christine Schuster, president and CEO, Emerson Hospital. "We know our employees are busy, so walking at lunchtime is a great way to integrate exercise into our day while spending some time with co-workers outside of the office. I look forward to joining my team as we walk our way to better health."

"Our goal at Kayser-Roth Corporation is to leave a legacy of healthier employees by creating an environment that encourages healthier lifestyles," said Rae Mackall, vice president of human resources at North Carolina- based Kayser-Roth Corporation. "We are encouraging our employees to walk on April 30th for National Walk @ Lunch Day as a way to motivate our team to walk everyday."

Below are highlights of some of the National Walk @ Lunch Day activities taking place across the country:

-- In Chicago, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and BCBSA are
hosting National Walk @ Lunch Day in Grant Park for Loop-based
employers to participate in a lunchtime walk.

-- Independence Blue Cross (IBC) will lead the charge on walking toward
better health in Philadelphia when nearly 4,000 IBC associates and
other local workforce employees walk three laps around Philadelphia
City Hall in the heart of the downtown business area. Mayor Michael
Nutter will be walking along with Dick Vermeil, former coach for the
Philadelphia Eagles, who will share personal insight on investing in
fitness for life. Actor-historian Ben Franklin will also reminisce
about Philadelphia's early days as a city for walking.

-- In addition to organizing walks at its offices across Arizona, Blue
Cross Blue Shield of Arizona is hosting a National Walk @ Lunch Day
event on the Senate lawn of the Capitol Complex in Phoenix to
congratulate winners of the State Senate health and wellness program
for Senate staffers. Activities will include a ceremonial walk around
a park adjacent to the State Capitol, led by fifth-grade students
representing the winning elementary school in the 2008 Walk On!
Challenge.

-- In Florida, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida is holding more than
15 walks across the state, including in four locations in
Jacksonville, Gainesville, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach,
Orlando, Pensacola, Tampa, Sarasota, Ft. Myers and Port St. Lucie. In
addition, several Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida members will
hold walks for their employees including the Clay County Board of
Commissioners; Exactech, Alachua County Board of County Commissioners,
and RTI Biologics (Gainesville); The Blood Alliance (Jacksonville),
and Goodwill Industries Suncoast, Inc.

-- In Baton Rouge, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is hosting an
event at their Baton Rouge campus. The event will feature a Blue
Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana employee who lost 50 pounds by
walking, as well as New Orleans Saints player Mike Karney, a spokesman
for BCBSLA's Louisiana 2 Step wellness program. The employees are
also participating in a "2-Ton Challenge," where Blue Cross and Blue
Shield of Louisiana is trying to collectively lose 2 tons of weight in
2 years.

-- Anthem Blue Cross will mobilize their more than 4,000 associates from
throughout California to participate in walks throughout the
communities where their offices are located. Then, over the next
couple of months, all associates will have the opportunity to
participate in a company wide fitness challenge to encourage Anthem
staff to get physically active and lead a healthier lifestyle.

-- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is hosting six community walks
throughout the state in Burlington, Montpelier, Rutland, St. Johnsbury
and Bennington. Additionally, BCBSVT coordinated walks at more than
50 employee sites and, with support from the Vermont teachers'
wellness program, sponsored student/teacher walks in 37 schools.
Vermont expects at least one in every 100 Vermonters to walk on
National Walk @ Lunch Day.

-- In Columbia, South Carolina, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina is
hosting a walk and health fair at Columbia's Finlay Park and is
inviting everyone who works in the area as well as the general public
to participate in the walk and other festivities.

-- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Colorado will be joined by CBS4
to walk Civic Center Park in honor of Walk @ Lunch. The walk will be
led by Mari Teitelman, a former Anthem Behavioral Health associate,
transplant survivor and winner of 5 medals in the World Transplant
Olympics, including 3 Gold Medals, and Homer Harris, aged 82, father
of Anthem's managing associate general counsel. Teitelman is training
to compete in the World Transplant Olympics again this July. "Fit and
fabulous," Harris, will talk about how exercise continues to be a
staple in his daily life. Harris not only runs and plays tennis five
days a week - he just joined Team Anthem in climbing 110 flights of
stairs for the American Lung Association's "Run the Republic" - the
event's oldest participant!

For more information, please visit www.bcbs.com/walkatlunch.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 39 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide healthcare coverage for more than 100 million individuals - one-in-three Americans. For more information on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and its member companies, please visit www.BCBS.com.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

CONTACT: Kelly Miller of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association,
+1-202-626-4825, kelly.miller@bcbsa.com

Web Site:

http://www.bcbs.com/walkatlunch

-------
Profile: Transplant News