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Independence, MO —
In this recent stretch of hot weather and with little sign of relief in sight, it’s likely the furthest thing from most peoples’ minds is getting out for a mile-long walk.
But then again, the heat doesn’t mean a thing to one group of dedicated Independence walkers who have participated in “The Mile Starts Here” mile-long program since it launched on June 6.
The rotating walking program visits a different park each week, taking to Clothier Park on Wednesday morning. It’s part of the larger Building a Healthier Independence initiative, which launched in early 2011 after the Independence Health Department received significant grant funding.
Before the program, Independence resident Terry Verren wasn’t much of a regular walker, but he is now. That’s because Verren is the father of Christina Heinen, project coordinator for Building a Healthier Independence. The daughter called and told her father about “The Mile Starts Here” at its beginning.
Verren has missed just one week since it started, and the 63-year-old said the physical activity is important for him since he suffered a heart attack two years ago.
“Honestly, I love the opportunity to exercise with my family,” Heinen said. “It’s a great thing, and I, of course, worry about (my dad), after his heart attack.”
The program’s name is derived from Harry Truman – an avid walker himself – and his famous saying of “The Buck Stops Here.” Initially, program organizers were concerned that no one would show up for the walks, Heinen said, but it ended up doing well, averaging about 20 walkers per week.
“I think (the hot weather) has been a little bit of a challenge,” she added, “but not nearly what we thought it would be. We still have new people who show up every week.”
Even in its seventh week, the program continues to attract newcomers. Jay Hoover of Independence participated in “The Mile Starts Here” for the first time on Wednesday. He plans to participate again next week since he lives close to Santa Fe Park.
“I’ve been interested in walking, but I haven’t been able to make it because of prior commitments the other times,” said Hoover, who walks regularly with his wife.
He said he enjoyed Wednesday’s walk because of the number of other participants, saying, “It’s good to have someone to walk with. I wasn’t sure what to expect, because of the heat. Hopefully, next week, it won’t be so hot – it’s been terrible.”
In this recent stretch of hot weather and with little sign of relief in sight, it’s likely the furthest thing from most peoples’ minds is getting out for a mile-long walk.
But then again, the heat doesn’t mean a thing to one group of dedicated Independence walkers who have participated in “The Mile Starts Here” mile-long program since it launched on June 6.
The rotating walking program visits a different park each week, taking to Clothier Park on Wednesday morning. It’s part of the larger Building a Healthier Independence initiative, which launched in early 2011 after the Independence Health Department received significant grant funding.
Before the program, Independence resident Terry Verren wasn’t much of a regular walker, but he is now. That’s because Verren is the father of Christina Heinen, project coordinator for Building a Healthier Independence. The daughter called and told her father about “The Mile Starts Here” at its beginning.
Verren has missed just one week since it started, and the 63-year-old said the physical activity is important for him since he suffered a heart attack two years ago.
“Honestly, I love the opportunity to exercise with my family,” Heinen said. “It’s a great thing, and I, of course, worry about (my dad), after his heart attack.”
The program’s name is derived from Harry Truman – an avid walker himself – and his famous saying of “The Buck Stops Here.” Initially, program organizers were concerned that no one would show up for the walks, Heinen said, but it ended up doing well, averaging about 20 walkers per week.
“I think (the hot weather) has been a little bit of a challenge,” she added, “but not nearly what we thought it would be. We still have new people who show up every week.”
Even in its seventh week, the program continues to attract newcomers. Jay Hoover of Independence participated in “The Mile Starts Here” for the first time on Wednesday. He plans to participate again next week since he lives close to Santa Fe Park.
“I’ve been interested in walking, but I haven’t been able to make it because of prior commitments the other times,” said Hoover, who walks regularly with his wife.
He said he enjoyed Wednesday’s walk because of the number of other participants, saying, “It’s good to have someone to walk with. I wasn’t sure what to expect, because of the heat. Hopefully, next week, it won’t be so hot – it’s been terrible.”
For the third Wednesdays in June and July, Sharon Clothier has blocked off a time frame for the walking program.
That’s because those walks have taken place at the park named for her late husband, Dr. Robert Clothier, who worked for years as a pediatrician at the nearby Medical Center of Independence. He died in January 2009 at age 68.
“I’m sure he would approve,” Sharon Clothier said of what her husband’s response would have been to the walking program. “He was a walker as long as he could walk. It seems like every other Wednesday morning, there’s been something at 9 o’clock, but I just cleared the third Wednesday off to be here.”
Because of the positive responses, Heinen said organizers would like to continue the walks into the fall, weather permitting, as well as next year. Until then, those interested in participating can visit www.buildingahealthierindependence.org to learn more about upcoming walks.
“The Mile Starts Here” also is a family affair for Sheri Mullins and her two daughters, Dana Young and Kim Schultz, all of whom live in Independence. While the women were already familiar with the Independence parks system, Young said she didn’t know that each park in the program had a walking trail that was marked to track walkers’ and joggers’ mileage.
The walking program exposed Young to Waterfall Park near Bass Pro Shops for the first time, which she said she especially appreciated.
“I had been to Bass Pro, of course, but not to the park and not to the area that they had for the walking,” she said.
Mullins said she is encouraged to see the variety of age groups who participate each week, including children coming with their parents or grandparents.
All three agree that they’d love to see the program continue as long as possible.
“I just love it, and I think it’s a great thing,” Schultz said, smiling. “I would love to see a big line of people all the way around.”
