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Berlin, Ocean Pines News Worcester County Bayside Gazette Logo Berlin, Ocean Pines News Worcester County Bayside Gazette

410-723-6397

'Just Walk Berlin' event this Sat., November 17

 BERLIN – To help residents become more active while also informing them of a free, countywide exercise program, the Worcester County Health Department has teamed with Berlin officials to organize the town’s inaugural “Just Walk Berlin” event, taking place Saturday, Nov. 17 at Stephen Decatur Park off Route 113.

"We are trying to highlight where people can go to be active in the area," said Mimi Dean, chronic disease prevention and tobacco control program coordinator of the Worcester County Health Department.

Registration for the free event, a one-mile casual walk throughout the park’s walking trail, begins at 9 a.m., with the actual walk starting at 9:30 a.m.

County representatives will also be providing free body composition testing, diabetes prevention information and "Quit Smoking Kits" in recognition of The Great American Smokeout.

"If someone wants to come and smoke while walking, they’re more than welcome to. We would just want the opportunity to hand them our kit," Dean said.

The first 50 participants will also receive a free “Just Walk” step counter.

Though the walk is meant to be a statement of keeping active in itself, county representatives are striving to get more people involved with the program.

Once a person signs up, he or she self-reports to the county and certain achievements will earn residents prizes such as sweatshirts, T-shirts and water bottles.

Accomplishments are recorded by the mile, but results can also be calculated by minutes, as county representatives understand that some residents who are not able to walk or run long distances.

Every 15 minutes of exercise is counted as an equivalent of traveling one mile.

Reporting these feats can be done by sending a fax to 410-632-0080, calling 410-632-0056 or by mailing in the results to the department. Send letters with attention to Mimi Dean to 6040 Public Landing Road, Snow Hill, Md. 21863.

While registration for the Just Walk program will be available at the event, people of all ages can join the program at any time.

This event is new to Berlin, but Just Walk was started 16 years ago by the Worcester County Health Department and has grown to have more than 2,000 participants.

Pre-registration for the event is encouraged by calling 410-632-0056.