Associate Director, Amy Rauworth

May is the month to remember our mothers and the contributions that they have made to our lives. In celebration of Mother’s Day send encouragement to the women in your lives to live a healthy, active lifestyle. (And don’t forget to send flowers, of course!) This Mother’s Day, take a walk/roll with the women in your life. To learn about National Women’s Health Week and inclusive participation possibilities, read this month’s FITT column below.

National Women's Health Week (May 11-May 17) empowers women across the country to get healthy by taking action. The nationwide initiative, coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health (OWH), encourages women to make their health a top priority and take simple steps for a longer, healthier, and happier life. During the week, families, communities, businesses, government, health organizations, and other groups work together to educate women about steps they can take to improve their physical and mental health and prevent disease, such as:

• Engaging in physical activity most days of the week
• Eating a nutritious diet
• Visiting a healthcare provider to receive regular check-ups and preventive screenings
• Avoiding risky behaviors, like smoking and not wearing a seatbelt

To learn more about this initiative, go to: http://www.womenshealth.gov/whw/about/

Make a difference with your participation! We need YOU to be inclusive!

A great way to get the women and men in our lives moving more is to establish a goal. Here is a unique opportunity to not only establish a goal but also to provide valuable feedback on a national event that is leading the way in addressing the needs of people with disabilities.

The Breast Cancer 3-Day is a series of 3-day, 60-mile walks located in 14 cities nationwide that raise millions of dollars for breast cancer research, education, and community outreach programs. Since the Breast Cancer 3-Day’s inception in 2003, many individuals with disabilities have participated in Breast Cancer 3-Day events. Now, through a partnership with the North Carolina Office on Disability and Health (NCODH) and the National Center of Physical Activity and Disability, the Breast Cancer 3-Day is evaluating its current event model to ensure a positive and safe experience for participants with disabilities. Called the “Breast Cancer 3-Day Accessibility Pilot Program,” the objective is to hone in on every element of the Breast Cancer 3-Day to ensure all aspects of the journey, from ceremonies to the route to the campsite, accommodate participants of all abilities. The Breast Cancer 3-Day, NCODH, and NCHPAD launched the pilot program in early 2008 and the improved experience will be tested at the 2008 Chicago Breast Cancer 3-Day August 8-10. The Breast Cancer 3-Day hopes to grow the program by incorporating it throughout the 2009 series and beyond.

We need participants for Team All Abilities! If you have a mobility disability, please consider participating in this ground-breaking event that will help support a great cause and will establish the basis for inclusive opportunities for people of all abilities in the years to come.

Some important information for participants in the All Abilities team:

• An honorarium will be provided for registration fees.
• Fundraising will be a team effort, so don’t let this be a barrier to your participation. We will all succeed as a team!
• It is not necessary that you complete all 60 miles. All participants establish individual daily goals. Transportation will be provided when daily goals have been reached.

The following is a link to information on the Chicago Breast Cancer 3-Day event: http://www.the3day.org/site/PageServer

 

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Contact Amy Rauworth at (312) 355-1584 or NCHPAD at (800) 900-8086 today to become part of our All Abilities Team!