Charleston National Walk @ Lunch Day Celebration Set for Marion Square

April 12, 2012

COLUMBIA, SC – April 12, 2012 – Many Americans struggle to fit regular exercise into their busy schedules. BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina says a 30-minute walk during the lunch hour is one way to do it.

The sixth annual National Walk @ Lunch Day®, a program created by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to help improve personal health and decrease the cost of health care for employers and employees, is Wednesday, April 25. S.C. BlueCross will celebrate the day in Charleston with a community event at Marion Square from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
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The event, which is free of charge and open to the public, will include a walking course, health screenings and information, chair massages, giveaways, music and more. Participants are encouraged to walk for 30 minutes and make a commitment to exercise regularly.

Walkers will receive free tote bags and T-shirts, while supplies last. Those who RSVP on the Events page at Facebook.com/bcbssc also will receive an aluminum water bottle at check-in.

BlueCross is holding similar events at the Statehouse in Columbia, Falls Park in Greenville and Morgan Square in Spartanburg. Many companies organize walks for their employees on National Walk @ Lunch Day, so those who cannot attend one of the community events are encouraged to walk near their workplace.

“Our annual Walk @ Lunch Day events demonstrate that the lunch hour is a great time for busy people to walk, and the health benefits of moderate exercise are well-documented,” said Dr. Laura Long, BlueCross’ vice president of clinical innovation and population health. “Just a 30-minute walk several times per week can help individuals manage their weight and lower their risk of heart attack, stroke and diabetes.”

About BlueCross
Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., and operating in South Carolina for more than 65 years, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The only South Carolina-owned and operated health insurance carrier, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina comprises 47 companies involved in health insurance services, the U.S. DoD health program and Medicare contracts, other insurance and employee benefits services, and a philanthropic foundation that funds programs to improve health care and access to health care for South Carolinians.