Breakfast Builds Enthusiasm for Fifth Annual National Walk @ Lunch Day
Philadelphia, PA – Independence Blue Cross (IBC) welcomed guests from over 60 area employers to a breakfast to kick off the fifth annual National Walk @ Lunch Day (NW@LD), which will be held April 25, 2012, both at a centralized event in center city and in many employer locations throughout the region.
The breakfast, held at IBC offices in Center City, began building the excitement about turning your working lunch into a walking lunch, and offered insight and panel discussions in gearing up for what has become a tradition for workers throughout the Philadelphia region. IBC also helps employer groups schedule and plan their own NW@LD events at locations throughout the region.
“Staying fit can be as effective as some medications in keeping down blood pressure levels,” said Dr. Richard Snyder, senior vice president and chief medical officer with IBC. “Exercise – such as briskly walking for just 30 minutes a day – is associated with up to a 40 percent lower risk of heart disease in women.” Snyder opened the breakfast with a recap of last year’s successful event, proclaiming, “This year, we hope to again exceed 100 participating customer groups, for a total of at least 12,000 walkers throughout the region.”
Six IBC customers – organizations in Southeastern Pennsylvania – were honored at the breakfast for participating in WalkingWorks Plus, a nine-month pilot walking program sponsored by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and administered by Independence Blue Cross:
- Fujirebio Diagnostics Inc.
- Kingsbury, Inc.
- Law School Admission Council
- Micro-Coax
- Superior Tube Co.
- Villanova University
Fujirebio Diagnostics Inc. also received a trophy for having the highest average daily step count among its associates over the nine months. WalkingWorks Plus is a turnkey consumer engagement program designed to inspire employees to increase their daily walking. It answers the challenge of keeping people motivated and empowered from the beginning of a worksite wellness program to the end.
This year, the centralized NW@LD event in Philadelphia will be held on Wednesday, April 25, at Rittenhouse Square from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., while smaller walks will take place throughout the region at employer sites, schools, government offices, and senior centers.
IBC supports numerous events and activities designed to promote physical exercise and healthy lifestyle decisions by its members and the community. In addition to National Walk @ Lunch Day, the company’s sponsorships include the Blue Cross Broad Street Run, the Step Out Walk to Stop Diabetes, and the Blue Cross RiverRink along the Delaware River.