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.
###
Contact:
Amy Smith
(704) 216-8859
amy.smith@rowancountync.gov
Download Media Release General Health Information-March 10 , 2023