Erie Walks Winners Announced – TalkErie.com

The winners of this year’s Erie Walks, a fun annual event that promotes fitness for businesses and organizations, were the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership in the small team category and Widget Financial in the large team category. The event, hosted by the Erie County Health Department, is a free program for businesses, organizations and nonprofits that encourages walking for at least 30 minutes a day to reap the health benefits.

“Erie Walks is an opportunity for organizations to enhance their employee wellness program or use it as a foundation to get started. We know that employees who take care of their health are more productive and call in sick less often,” said Leanne Sestak, Erie Walks Coordinator. “The program is designed to encourage participants to meet recommended physical activity guidelines. Participants earned points for each day they were active for 30 minutes or more.”

“Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans” recommends that adults do at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity or 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity each day, or an equivalent combination. Following these guidelines can improve your overall health and reduce your risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer or diabetes. A single session of moderate to vigorous physical activity can improve sleep, memory, and the ability to think and learn. It also reduces anxiety symptoms. For more information, contact the Erie County Health Department at 814-451-6700 or ecdhinfo@eriecountypa.gov.