Walk for Wellness! UH St. John Medical Center Kicks Off Great Northern Walkers Club

“My doctor high-5’s me now when I go
to see him.” – Kevan Stuber

The University Hospitals St. John Medical Center Walkers Club is a great way to get in some healthy exercise over the cold weather months.

The Club meets at Great Northern Mall the second Wednesday of each month near the commons area by the Dick’s Sporting Goods entrance.

Each session includes a Health talk from 9-10 a.m. and blood pressure screenings from 9 – 10:30 a.m.

Brisk walking has been linked to many health benefits, including a reduced risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some cancers, reports Paul Forthofer, Manager Community Outreach UH SJMC.

The Walkers Club has some amazing success stories! Topping the list is retired Olmsted Falls teacher Kevan Stuber. He was honored at last week’s 2018 kick-off event for covering more than 65,000 steps on his 2017 excursions. His results? He has lost 80 pounds and moved out of the prediabetic range and into normal blood sugar categories.

Walkers Diane Szialgy and Tom Ambrose
are regulars at the UH SJMC Great
Northern Walkers Club. Tom’s wife
(not pictured) walks 1-2 miles daily and
is a quadruple joint replacement patient
(both knees, both hips).

“My doctor high-5’s me now when I go to see him,” laughs Stuber. “Diet and exercise – those are the two things most people just don’t want hear about, but they work!”

In a collaborative effort, Great Northern Mall and UH St. John Medical Center are providing this ongoing mall walking program. All are invited to join any time.

The mall is walker-friendly, climate controlled, has level surfaces and is a safe environment. One lap around the mall is .96 miles. Follow the footsteps on the floor to learn other UH St. John Medical Center health tips.

A free health talk by a UH St. John Medical Center health care professional is also offered, along with blood pressure screenings by a Community Outreach nurse.

Many of the walkers in the Club find the friendship, camaraderie and fun of the social setting to circle the calendar on walking days. It works!

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