In October, the season is changing as the leaves are beginning to fall, and the weather is getting cooler. That’s why Baker University Student Health Services decided October would be the perfect time to start a walking campaign.
Director of Student Health Services Ruth Sarna is responsible for introducing the walking campaign dubbed “Walktober.”
“In October the weather is still nice enough to walk, especially in Baldwin with all of the leaves,” Sarna said.
On Monday health services held a meeting for students and faculty to discuss Walktober. The program begins Sunday and will last all month as a way to encourage faculty, staff and students to start a regular walking routine.
Participants will be encouraged to walk as often as they can. Walktober hopes to increase the national average of 4,000 steps per day to at least 8,000 steps. As a means of encouragement, participants will be given a shoe tag, reminding them to walk.
The program will also give participants a calendar so they can record when they walk each day. Participants who walk 20 times or more during the month will receive a special gift.
Walktober was started in order to help people place a higher value on their health and to make walking a priority during October and the rest of the year.
The Walktober program should be fun for students to participate in, sophomore Aaron Whittle said.
“I really look forward to it, and hopefully there will be a lot of other people walking, too, because it’s a great way to meet new people,” Whittle said.
Freshman Katelyn Brewer said the program would encourage students to go on walks with their friends and enjoy the weather before winter comes around.
“Walktober would help me to enjoy exercise more because I’ll enjoy the scenery of October,” Brewer said. “It will be enjoyable to walk with friends so we can talk about our day and have company when I walk.”