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Focus on Wellness - Get Fit for a Cause We've all heard it before - walking is one of the best ways to get active and get fit! It is low risk, easy to do, and has proven health benefits, including reducing cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, increasing cardiovascular endurance, boosting bone strength, and burning calories to keep weight down! So why not walk (or run or dance) for a cause? Charity walks or runs are a great way to get exercise, while at the same time raise money and awareness for a worthwhile cause. Charity fitness events are held in most major cities and can range from 1 - 3 mile walks or runs, to half-marathons (13 miles), full marathons (26 miles), three-day walk-a-thons, all-night relays, or even dance-a-thons. They benefit a variety of causes, including specific diseases, homelessness, or drunk driving. Below is a list of charity events that are held throughout the U.S. and Canada each year. Find an event in your area and get moving for a cause! Here are just some of the charity events that may be in your area: AIDS - AIDS Walks Alzheimers - Memory Walk Arthritis - Arthritis Walk Asthma - American Lung Association's Asthma Walk Autism - Walk for Autism Birth Defects - March of Dimes Walk America Breast Cancer - Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Breast Cancer - Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Cancer - American Cancer Society Relay for Life or Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life Cystic Fibrosis - Great Strides for Cystic Fibrosis Diabetes - America's Walk for Diabetes or Team Diabetes Canada Down Syndrome - Buddy Walk Drunk Driving - MADD Strides for Change Kidney Disease - National Kidney Foundation Kidney Walk Leukemia - Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training Lupus - Walk with Us to Cure Lupus Multiple Sclerosis - MS Walk, MS Challenge Walk, or MS Bike Ride Suicide - Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk to Prevent Suicide These are just a sample of the events that are out there. Look up your favorite charity or cause and see if they have a fitness event planned in your area. Start a Team Why not have a little fun too? With most of these events, you can participate as a team with your co-workers, family or friends. It's a great way to spend time with others while getting exercise and supporting your favorite cause. You can come up with your own team name, logo, t-shirts, and signs! The employees at the ATU International Headquarters, along with their friends and families, have done just that. They have formed the ATU Moving for the Cure team and will be participating in the National Race for the Cure on June 2nd to benefit breast cancer research and prevention. To date, the team has 23 members and has raised over $3,000! You can support the ATU Moving for the Cure team by making an online contribution through the ATU team's web page. If you make a contribution in honor or memory of someone you know who has had breast cancer, their name will be printed in the July/August In Transit along with other submissions to the ATU Team Honor Roll. Simply go to the ATU Team Page and enter your donation. You can link to the team page by clicking on the ATU pink ribbon logo on the ATU website - http://www.atu.org. Tell Us How You Are Moving for a Cause If you are already moving for a cause, or plan to participate in a charity fitness event, let us know. We might feature you and your cause in the next Focus on Wellness email. Just send an email with the details to atuaction@atu.org. |
