BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina

S.C. BlueCross to Celebrate National Walk @ Lunch Day at the Statehouse

April 09, 2009

Columbia, S.C. – BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina will celebrate National Walk @ Lunch Day^® on Wednesday, April 29, by holding a community walk at the Statehouse in Columbia. The event is free of charge and open to the public.

The Statehouse event is part of the third annual National Walk @ Lunch Day, which was created by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association to encourage Americans to live healthier lives by incorporating walking into their daily routines. Last year, the event drew tens of thousands of participants in all 50 states.

The goal of National Walk @ Lunch Day is to encourage American workers to engage in exercise regularly during their lunch breaks. More than 1,000 people participated in S.C. BlueCross’ lunchtime community walk in Columbia last year.

In addition to a walking course, the Statehouse event will include music, health screenings conducted by local hospitals and other organizations, health-related information, chair massages, live broadcasts from radio and television stations, giveaways, and more.

The walk is from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Admission is free, and children, adults and groups are welcome.

S.C. BlueCross is asking employers unable to participate in the Statehouse walk to hold 30-minute walks for their workers at or near their workplace on April 29.

"We had a great turnout for our first community walk last year in Columbia, and we look forward to another successful event this year," said David Pankau, president of S.C. BlueCross’ BlueCross BlueShield Division. "Lunchtime walks are a great way for Americans to fit regular exercise into their busy schedules."

Just 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, such as a brisk walk, at least five times a week has significant health benefits, such as lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension and type 2 diabetes, and improving the health of muscles, bones and joints. [Source:  Physical Activity and Health, A Report of the Surgeon General, 1996.]

Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina (www.SouthCarolinaBlues.com) is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The only South Carolina-owned and operated health insurance carrier, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina and its family of companies include more than 20 subsidiaries involved in health insurance services, U.S. DoD health program and Medicare contracts, and other insurance and employee benefits services.