La Red to launch community walking club May 7

La Red Health Center is partnering with the Delaware Division of Public Health to promote heart health and physical activity by offering a lunchtime walking club in Georgetown.

The La Red Walking Club will get underway at 12 p.m., Wednesday, May 7, at La Red Health Center’s main campus at 21444 Carmean Way, Georgetown. The club will walk a 1-mile loop from the campus past Sun Behavioral Health and Beebe Health Center, before finishing up back at La Red. 

The club will meet every Wednesday. All are welcome, and participation is free, but registration is required at https://tinyurl.com/mrdz86pz. Participants will receive a free La Red Walking Club T-shirt and water bottle.

People of all ages and levels of fitness are encouraged to join the walking club. Its goals are simple: build community, support physical exercise and encourage people to get outside in the sun and fresh air.

Individuals are encouraged to walk at their own pace, and walking the whole course is not a requirement. The club is meant to be a supportive environment where members build up their strength and endurance collectively.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, regular walking can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression and some cancers. The CDC recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise a week. The La Red Health Center Walking Club can help people reach that weekly goal.

“At La Red Health Center, we believe in our community’s health, and the best way to improve health is through diet and exercise,” said Rachel Hersh, La Red CEO. “Many chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes or hypertension can be controlled, prevented or greatly improved by making changes like walking more, and eating more fresh fruits and vegetables. We want to help our community do just that.”

The Walking Club is made possible through an Advancing Health Lifestyles mini-grant program through the Delaware Division of Public Health’s Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity Prevention Program.

La Red Health Center has just under 14,000 patients who are served at its offices in Milford, Georgetown and Seaford. La Red provides healthcare services to all Sussex County residents, including those who are insured and underinsured.

La Red Health Center, a federally qualified health center in Sussex County, has provided quality healthcare for individuals and families since 2001. It is committed to ensuring the highest level of care for all individuals and families. La Red offers primary healthcare, pediatrics, women’s health services and behavioral health services at all three locations. It also offers dental services at its Milford and Georgetown locations. For more information, go to laredhealthcenter.org.