LUFKIN, TX (KTRE) -
For two months 450 East Texas walkers
hit the pavement and managed to walk more than 63,000 miles.
The Walk Across Texas initiative
kicked off in September, and that's when 65-year-old Kathy Felts said a friend
from work encouraged her to start walking.
"I started walking with her and
just got into it and just kept going," said Felts.
Felts walked nearly 1,500 miles and lost 10
pounds, she said she was surprised at how the steps she took added up at the
end of the challenge.
"I hardly ever sit down and when
I go at to lunch I walk on my lunch break and I walk on my breaks," said
Felts.
Angela Hill is a member of the winning
team, her and six of her co-workers walked more than 4,000 miles.
Hill said she was able to do her part
by walking before work, after work and on weekends and she is seeing the
results.
"Lost some weight my energy level
went up and I just felt good about myself," said Hill.
Challenge winners say the walking
initiative was about more than winning a prize but about improving their
overall health.
"You'll feel better about
yourself, you'll actually lose weight its just one step at a time," said
Hill.
"You need to get in shape now so
when you get older you won't be in bad health," said Felts.
Registered dietician Amy McLeod said
that eating right and exercising are beneficial for your health but she says
healthy living can also impact the economy.
"We were able to save Angelina
County three million dollars in potential health care costs and reduced lost
wages due to missed work," said Amy McLeod Rd, Ld.
Health officials are already working
on planning another Walk Across Texas event in the spring.
The group winners were
awarded with a t-shirt and walking DVDs for rainy days.
The individual winner won 100 dollars in gift
cards from Brookshire Brothers, Target and Academy Sport and Outdoors.
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