For the second year, Mayor Alfred Mae Drakeford is joining mayors nationwide in encouraging residents in their communities to reduce heart disease and stroke. Mayor Drakeford will host her second “March with the Mayor” on Saturday, May 11th, beginning at Camden City Hall.
She encourages mothers, their families, and everyone in the community to gather on the front lawn of City Hall, 1000 Lyttleton Street, at 9:00 am to enjoy a one mile walk through Downtown Camden. Additionally, a 5K “fun run” route will be available, for those who want a little more of a challenge.
“Move with the Mayor”, a partnership between the City of Camden, LiveWell Kershaw Coalition, and the National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention, is meant to demonstrate that staying active can be fun and rewarding and that even the busiest people can make time for heart-healthy activities.
“Being physically active has numerous benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and stroke,” said Mayor Drakeford. “We are all very busy in our day-to-day activities, I know. It can be hard to fit physical activity into our routines. But even fitting 30 minutes of activity into a hectic daily schedule can be incredibly rewarding.”
The “Move with the Mayor” campaign continues the following Saturday, Kids to Parks Day on May 18, with fun physical activities in Unity Park across from the Farmers Market on Market Street.
“My Move with the Mayor team and I have been offering a variety of physical activity events throughout the past year, and I will continue to urge Camden residents to find a form of physical activity that they enjoy and stick to it,” said Drakeford. “Take the stairs, enjoying one of our many park or hiking trails, go for a swim or a bike ride. By doing our part, we can help build a healthier, more dynamic community.”
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Research shows that moving for just 30 minutes a day can help combat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, three of the biggest risk factors for heart disease affecting about 48% of all Americans. In Kershaw County, recent studies have shown that 46% of adults have high blood pressure, 38% have high cholesterol, 34% are either diabetic or have prediabetes, and 44% are considered obese.
About the National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention & “Move with the Mayor“
The National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention brings together the most dynamic and diverse organizations in cardiovascular health, providing a forum and outlet for organizations to amplify their voices. Our members currently represent more than 90 national and international organizations from the public and private healthcare organizations, as well as faith, advocacy, academic, and policy settings. The National Forum is an independent non-profit, 501(c)(3), voluntary health organization. To learn more, visit www.nationalforum.org.
Mayors use “Move with the Mayor” to encourage residents to protect and improve their health and to make their communities more active and accessible. Mayors are using “Move with the Mayor” messaging, policy recommendations, and other tools to empower and protect community members from COVID-19 and improve cardiovascular health and health equity.