Getting people up on their feet and moving is what’s really behind Let’s Move Day.
Around 50 runners and walkers hit the river valley trail system in Ponoka on Sept. 17 for the inaugural run, organized by the Ponoka Seventh-day Adventist Church.
“The North American division of the church created the day to help get people moving and be active,” said Keith Clarke, the church’s community service director.
“It was initially done with the objective of dealing with childhood and overall obesity in the population and to promote better health and activity.”
The run included distances for both runners and walkers with one, 2.5, five and 10 kilometre routes that, for the most part, followed the local trails alongside the Battle River. However, there were some portions that had to hit a few local streets in Riverside.
Participants, aside from the exercise benefits, received a t-shirt and knew the proceeds from the entry fee are going to the Ponoka Trail Improvement Fund.
Clarke added the assistance from The Running Room in Red Deer and the Red Deer Primary Care Network as well as donations from The Good Water Company, McDonalds and Subway in Ponoka and Burman University really helped make the event a success in its first year.
“We are really pleased with the turnout and the help received, considering not advertising it much,” he said.
“And the donations will help a lot in covering some of the costs in making our trails better.”
