For Release: July 1, 2011
Contact:
Christina Cyrus 330.344.7819, christina.cyrus@akrongeneral.org
Jim Gosky 330.344.6083, jgosky@agmc.org
Lodi Community Hospital has partnered with students and staff at Lodi Primary to educate elementary school kids about how eating healthy and moving your body can be fun by teaming up and creating a program called Walk Around Ohio. The walking program was an effort to motivate students to participate in physical activity. The initiative promoted the importance of healthy eating and physical activity at a young age to help prevent weight gain and potential obesity.
To track the miles, the hospital donated a large laminated Ohio map. Miles were logged by 425 first- and second-graders, who walked once a week for a grand total of 3,688 miles — far exceeding their 900-mile goal. "The staff put together an entire wall of information about the state of Ohio. Not only did the children exercise, they learned a ton about Ohio, too," said Lodi Community Hospital's Kathy Grabowski, RN. "I had tears in my eyes when the staff showed me how committed they were to this and how excited the school was about it. They are amazing people and the children are so blessed, we were lucky to be a partner."
The children’s miles were tracked by a card punch and they were rewarded for their participation with a chance to win a new bike. The school used grant money for one bike and the hospital donated the second. The program concluded with an assembly May 27 at Lodi Primary School, where lucky winners Rianna Hucik and Kane Surrarre were rewarded with their new bikes, complete with helmets, of course!
Akron General Health System is a not-for-profit healthcare organization with the mission of improving the health and lives of patients and the community. Akron General Health System includes: Akron General Medical Center, a 511-bed teaching and research medical center, and Edwin Shaw Rehabilitation Institute, the area's largest provider of rehabilitation services; Akron General Partners, which includes Partners Physician Group, the Akron General Health & Wellness Centers, Lodi Community Hospital, Community Health Centers and other companies; Akron General Community Health Ventures, which includes Visiting Nurse Service and Affiliates, the largest and most comprehensive provider of home healthcare services in Ohio; and Akron General Development Foundation. For more information about Lodi Community Hospital, five-time winner of the Press Ganey Associates Patient Satisfaction Summit Award, visit www.lodihospital.org.
