RLC joins American Heart Association in creating Walking Path

INA, Ill. (April 21, 2015) - Take a lap around Rend Lake College’s campus on the new American Heart Association (AHA) Walking Path. RLC and the AHA partnered up Friday morning, April 17, during the first Health and Wellness Fair on campus to celebrate a new location for locals to commit to becoming healthier.

The AHA has designated Walking Paths across the country, labeling them with metal signs and listing them on their website www.startwalkingnow.org, which provides details on location, distance, and terrain of the path. The goal is to help individuals find a pathway near their home or workplace that is convenient for walking.

RLC faculty, staff, and students gathered for a photo of the AHA Walking Path ribbon-cutting. Pictured is, FROM LEFT, Erin Morris, Community and Corporate Education Specialist; Morgan Gravatt, Title III Project Assistant; Wendy Smith, Controller; Mallory Howell, Business Office Accountant; Sandy West, Coordinator of Technical Services and Collection; Kacie Hunter, Accounts Receivable Specialist; Nathan Wheeler, Marketing Specialist; Jessica Hastings (McLeansboro), Nursing student; Beth Walker, AHA Corporate Events Director; Ginny Price (Opdyke), Nursing student; Stephanie Smith, Community and Corporate Education Administrative Assistant; Rachel Sveda, Financial Aid and Admissions Coordinator; Leslie McKenzie, AHA Training Center Coordinator; Kim Wilkerson, Dean of Allied Health; Lori Ragland, Dean of Community and Corporate Education; Lana Adams, Business Office Accountant; Jeff Fairbanks, Culinary Arts Associate Professor; Eric Black, Board of Trustees Chair; and Terry Wilkerson, President. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information

“On RLC’s campus, we host weekly ‘Walk and Talks’ during the lunch hour on Wednesdays as part of our Worksite Wellness program. The AHA Walking Path will enhance these walks by providing indicators and encouragement along the way,” said Lori Ragland, Dean of Community and Corporate Education.

Heart disease is the number one killer of adults in the United States, reports the AHA, but walking for 30 minutes or more every day can reduce the risk of getting the disease by as much as 30 percent. Only 15 percent of American adults achieve the recommended levels of aerobic exercise per week.

“We want to make exercising fun and enjoyable for locals and the RLC community,” said Kim Wilkerson, Dean of Allied Health. “Walking is the simplest change anyone can make to improve their heart health, and we want to be part of that change for those around us. We hope the community takes advantage of this great, new opportunity.”

For more information about RLC’s Walking Path, contact Beth Walker at (217) 821-2987 or beth.walker@heart.org.