CAMBRIDGE, Md. (WBOC) — Dozens of people in Dorchester County laced up their sneakers Wednesday afternoon for Walk Maryland Day, a celebration of walking, the state's official exercise.
The day encourages Marylanders to make walking and other physical activity a year-round habit for better health. The Dorchester County Health Department hosted a 30-minute walk from Race Street to Long Wharf Park in Cambridge.
For many who came out, the walk was about more than getting out the door.
Renna Thompson walks every morning with a group of women in Cambridge, and she still made a point of joining the event.
"It feels good out here," Thompson said. "No matter how much money that you have, if you don't have your health, you can't spend your money. So try to keep yourself healthy."
Staff from the county’s health department f say the county has a higher number of chronic disease cases than the state average. About 18.5% of people in Dorchester County have diabetes, compared with a statewide average of about 10%.
Shannon Proffitt works with the health department’s chronic disease program. She said a simple walk can be transformative for your health.
"We look for about 150 minutes a week, which comes out to be about 30 minutes a day," Proffitt said. "And that can help with stroke, diabetes, hypertension. And it also helps lower our cortisol levels and raises our dopamine levels. So that helps with our mental health as well."
Robin Stanely, who is also involved in the health department's chronic disease program, said walking can help clear your head, too.
"It helps with your mental health, if you think about it,” Stanely said. “ If you're going through stress, a good walk can help clear your head, clear your mind. And 150 minutes a week will help reduce diabetes, hypertension, all those good things."
Some participants came to celebrate what walking has already done for them. Joyce Green said it helped her take back her health.
"I used to weigh 300 pounds. Now I'm down to 165," Green said. "So that says it [all] by itself."
Stanely said she hopes the turnout also meant something for Cambridge.
"A lot of bad stuff happened in Cambridge in the past few months," Stanely said. "So I just think a day like today, a beautiful day and people coming out… the city of Cambridge, the county health department, and just trying to bring this energy back. Maybe this is one step at a time. So hopefully we can bring on more days like this."
Proffitt said she hopes the event helps lower the county's chronic disease burden and shows residents that getting healthier doesn't have to be expensive or complicated.
"I would just love to see our chronic disease burden go down as a county, and that we give residents the resources that they need," Proffitt said. "People understand that it doesn't have to be a fancy gym membership where you're going every day at 6 a.m. Little steps and just grabbing a buddy and taking a walk during your lunch break can really make a difference."
She also encouraged people who feel overwhelmed to start small.
"I know that life is hard right now, and it feels like sometimes we can't take on one more thing," Proffitt said. "But giving yourself 5 or 10 minutes to decompress can really help you physically and mentally. And that makes everything else worth it."
Walk Maryland Day is part of Walktober, a month-long campaign promoting walking.
