Walk and Roll 2009

University of Missouri Extension's mission is to provide educational opportunities to help our citizens. The broad areas of concerns are related to Human Environmental Science, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H and Youth, Community Development, Business Development, and Continuing Education.

During the plan of work process, the state plan related to human environmental sciences and 4-H and Youth resulted in many named programs geared to promote fitness and nutrition for all ages.

This is the third year for this program and we have made changes to help provide additional information so that they can show progress by their participation. We have decided to have only three sessions and we will have health screenings at all sessions to see if progress was made during the ten week program. Lunch will not be provided, however, participants can bring a sack lunch if they would like. There will be snacks and bottled water provided during each of the sessions. We will have door prizes and incentives at each of the three meetings. Those who attend all three sessions will be eligible for the grand prize drawing.

This program has a number of sponsors. They are the University of Missouri Extension, who is handling the registration and is in charge of local arrangements; AARP, who is providing the pedometers (step counters), Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center (TRRMC), Dunklin County Health Department, the Kennett Nutrition Center will be providing snacks at each session.

The VNA will be providing oxygen levels; NHC will provide blood glucose levels, the Dunklin County Health Department will do blood pressure and the Twin Rivers Regional medical Center will provide information on diabetic wound care. Procare Medical will provide Diabetic shoe fittings and blood pressure screenings. Agencies who would be interested in being involved with this program and anyone who is not listed as a sponsor and would like to be one can contact the Dunklin County Extension Center at 573-888-4722.

Walk and Roll, a free 10 week program to promote walking and rolling (wheelchairs), will begin on Thursday, September 17 at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center located at 1090 Southwest Drive (corner of South By-Pass and Southwest Drive). Participants will be able to track their rolling or walking throughout the ten-week program. All three sessions will be from 11:30-1:30.

This program is a variation on the Walk the Walk program that has been very successful in Southeast Missouri. This program has been presented in Kennett, Caruthersville, Cape Girardeau, Poplar Bluff, Doniphan, and Malden. The purpose of this program is to motivate people of all ages to walk and to stay fit. Walking is easy, cheap, gentle on the body, and can be practiced by people of all ages and fitness levels. Participants can do as much rolling or walking or as little as they want.

The theme for this year's program will be related to blood pressure. The first session will have free blood pressure screenings and other free health screenings. The topic will be Blood pressure and screenings and information will be presented by Beverly Hargrove, Butler County Health Department. The second session which will be held on Thursday, October 29 will be dedicated to medications and blood pressure. The speaker will be Brian Mitchell, pharmacist at Mitchell?s Pharmacy. The third session to be held on Thursday, November 19 will feature Judy Lueders, nutrition specialist with the University of Missouri?s Perry County Extension Center, who will provide information on nutrition and high blood pressure.

I have been impressed with this program and how the various agencies have worked together to promote fitness. This is an opportunity for the elderly, youth, and families to learn about healthy lifestyles and putting their training into action. Last year, the evaluations were very positive about what participants learned and how they viewed positive lifestyle changes to promote health and fitness. As a result of the Roll and Walk, there was enough interest for the Stay Strong, Stay Healthy class that followed. Participants learned that low impact weight training using soup cans could be used by everyone. Participants in the Walk and Roll program were asked about which topics were most useful. Dietary information, benefits of exercise, weight loss, diabetes and food, and healthy eating were noted by participants.

At this point, the mailings have gone out to all of the AARP members in Dunklin County to promote the event. In addition, information has been in the Daily Dunklin Democrat and it has been on Windjammer Cablevision. All workshops and participation in the program is free. To register, call the Dunklin County University of Missouri Extension Office at (573) 888-4722.

University of Missouri Extension programs are open to all.

em>Dr. Michael R. Milam is an agronomy specialist and county program director with University of Missouri Extension in Dunklin County.