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Health Department

Posted on: March 10, 2023

Media Release General Health Information – March 10, 2023

For Immediate Release

03/10/2023   

General Health Information

Phone: 704-216-8944
Website: www.rowancountync.gov/health

Email: kristen.estepp@rowancountync.gov


Choose Your Own Adventure

Healthy Rowan is proud to announce the launch of the 2023 “Choose Your Own Adventure” Campaign. Choose Your Own Adventure is a Healthy Rowan initiative to increase physical activity and showcases the organizations who are a part of Healthy Rowan. Healthy Rowan is a community coalition focused on addressing the top three community health priorities of: healthy lifestyle behaviors, mental health, and substance use. All 146,000 Rowan County residents should have an opportunity to be healthy. Increasing your physical activity can be as simple as putting on your tennis shoes and meeting up for a walk!

 Participating in physical activity has immediate benefits for your health and wellness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that being physically active can help improve your brain health, help manage weight, reduce the risk of disease, strengthen bones and muscles, and improve your ability to do everyday activities (CDC, 2022). In 2021, the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) was conducted and found that 44% of respondents exercised regularly. Of those that did not exercise regularly, lack of time and motivation were the most reported barriers. A recent study suggests that just eleven minutes of physical activity has benefits on our health, including protection against a range of chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, stroke, and all-types of cancer (Garcia et al. 2023). Even with a busy lifestyle, everyone can find eleven minutes per day to get moving. Choose Your Own Adventure is also great opportunity to meet others in the community!

In addition to the physical benefits that physical activity has, physical activity also improves mental health. Studies have shown a relationship between non-formal exercise programs, like walking, and improvements in your mood and mental health by reducing anxiety and depression (Mayo Clinic. 2017). The 2021 CHNA found that over one-third of survey respondents stated they wish they had someone to talk to about anxiety or depression. Walking can ease the feelings of anxiety and depression, improving mood.

 This spring, Healthy Rowan organizations chose a variety of physical activity opportunities that we encourage you to attend. Take pictures and tag us with #ChooseYourOwnAdventure and log your steps or physical activity at www.RowanMoves.com.

Event

Date and Time

Location

Organization

Wake-Up Walk

Wednesday, March 8th from 7:30-8 AM

Granite Lake Park

Smart Start Rowan

Afternoon Walk

Tuesday, March 14th from 3:30-4 PM

Bell Tower Green

Rowan Food and Farm Network

Walk On Your Break

Wednesday, March 22nd – All Day

Anywhere

Novant Health Rowan Medical Center

Walk With Trinity at Home

Wednesday. March 29th from 1:30-2:30 PM

Trinity Oaks

Trinity at Home

Community Walking Assessment

Tuesday, April 4th *more details to come

*more details to come

Rowan County Public Health

Walk with Murphy

Friday, April 14th from 12-1 PM

Hurley Park starting at the large gazebo

Terri Hess House Child Advocacy Center

Ecological Nature Preserve Walk with Exercise is Medicine

Monday, April 17th from 4:30-5:30 PM

The walk will begin in the parking lot behind Robertson College-Community Center (2300 West Innes St.)

Catawba College

Health Walk

Wednesday, April 26th from 12:15-1:15 PM

Hurley Park starting at Community Care Clinic

Community Care Clinic of Rowan County

Field Day

Friday, May 6th from 5-7 PM

Bell Tower Green

Youth Substance Use Prevention (YSUP)

Community Bike Ride

Friday, May 12th from 5:30-6:30 PM

The Pedal Factory

The Pedal Factory

A Walk in the Park

Friday, May 19th from 12-1 PM

Granite Lake Park

Rowan County Department of Social Services

Yoga and Stretch led by Jim Amaral

Thursday, May 25th from 1-2 PM

Main Street Marketplace and Meeting Place in China Grove

Main Street Marketplace and Meeting Place

Senior Health and Fitness Day

Wednesday, May 31st from 9 AM-1 PM

Rufty-Holmes Senior Center

Rufty-Holmes Senior Center

 

Be sure to follow Rowan Moves and Healthy Rowan social media for updates.

For more information, or if you are interested in hosting a Choose Your Own Adventure, please contact Program Manager Kristen Estepp at Kristen.Estepp@rowancountync.gov or at (704) 216-8944. Program staff are available to plan, coordinate, and set-up for your adventure.

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Contact:

Amy Smith

(704) 216-8859

amy.smith@rowancountync.gov

 

Download Media Release General Health Information-March 10 , 2023

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