Let's Get 1 Million Indigenous People Moving!

Contributed by: Chapa-De On the Move
Date: 1/3/06

Chapa-De On The Move membership grew to 29 in the last three months of 2005, and the goal of walking 3140 miles, the same distance one would walk if walking between Auburn, CA and Anchorage, AK, has been met -- ahead of schedule. At the end of week 10 of our 12-week On The Move program, the dozen or so people who have been turning in their walking logs got us all the way to Anchorage, and then decided to turn eastward and start walking across Canada toward the new goal of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

That's pretty far, you say? Not if you're committed to reaping the benefits of regular physical activity, as this group is. Walkers also recorded 643 servings of vegetables, 668 servings of fruit and 1906 servings of water (that's 119 gallons of water)! Several are delighted to find they are losing weight and lowering their blood pressure. One even found she needed a lower dose of her diabetes medication.

Cooking classes were held on five Fridays during the 12-Week On The Move Program. In addition to providing an opportunity to meet and encourage other OTM participants, the classes offered nutrition information and new cooking ideas. Each had a turn at making cholesterol-free eggs, tofu smoothies, corn tortillas, and the like. Then the balance of the meal was provided by local caterers. Door prizes carried the nutrition theme, such as foods rich in calcium, foods rich in protein or fruits and vegetables. A special prize was given to the walker who put us over the finish line in Anchorage, Alaska.

The last cooking class met early to provide enough time to participate in an exercise program prior to the meal. Participants kicked and punched their way through a section of Rezrobics before greeting the lunchtime group. All were happy to see fellow walkers one last time before year's end.