Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
French Hospital Medical Center proudly opened its new Start! Walking Paths on Tuesday, June 30 with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Mayor Dave Romero, American Heart Association (AHA) representatives, and FHMC President Alan Iftiniuk were all on hand to open the new paths for employees, visitors, and the community to enjoy.
Lisa Dosch from the AHA recognized FHMC as the first and only Fit Friendly Organization and with the Community Innovation Award for efforts to improve community wellness through the Fitness Zone, Start!Walking Paths, and the nutritious food served in the cafeteria. For each person in attendance, FHMC donated two dollars to the AHA to help fight heart disease locally because every one hour of regular exercise can increase life expectancy by two hours. Individuals participating in the event personalized hearts with their names or names of loved ones for a special display now in the hospital lobby.
The FHMC Start! Walking Paths begin at the Hospital Fitness Zone and circle around the hospital campus in half-mile and quarter-mile loops. The Fitness Zone and paths are open every day from sunrise to sunset for the community to use free of charge.
FHMC is proud to incorporate the walking paths and the Fitness Zone as the lead sponsor of AHA Start! Program. Start! promotes physical activity through workplace walking programs helping employees reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke to lead longer, stronger, healthier lives. FHMC and the AHA emphasize work-place walking because it is effective for all fitness levels and has the lowest drop out rate of any physical activity
The FHMC Start! Walking Paths and Fitness Zone are great ways to get fit and reduce stress, and when used routinely, can increase overall health and life expectancy. For more information on the walking paths or the Fitness Zone, call Robyn Kontra, 805.542.6496, or e-mail Robyn.Kontra@chw.edu.
