If a daily fitness walk could be put in a pill, it would be one of the most popular prescriptions in the world. It has so many health benefits. Walking can reduce the risk of many diseases — from heart attack and stroke to hip fracture and glaucoma. These may sound like claims on a bottle of snake oil, but they’re backed by major research.
Walking requires no prescription. The risk of side effects is very low, and the benefits are numerous: managing protection against hip fractures, losing weight, controlling of blood pressure, decreasing risk of heart attack, boosting of “good” cholesterol, lowering the risk of stroke, reducing the risk of breast cancer and type 2 diabetes.
With such an impressive list of benefits, today is the day to start. I hope to see you on my strolls through the neighborhood. The 5th Annual 1000 Mile Walking Club 5K Walk takes place on Saturday, May 17. Kick-off is at 7:45 a.m., with the walk beginning at 8:30 a.m. leaving from the Stony Creek Golf Course. There may still be time to kick off your desire to get more active today. Contact (708) 857-2200 for more information.
The Community Nutrition Network is in dire need of volunteers to assist with their mission: providing nutritious meals and services to older adults in suburban Cook, Grundy and Kendall Counties to improve their quality of life.
They are in need of Meals on Wheels Drivers and Group Dining Site Volunteers. Drivers deliver a route of meals using their own vehicles. Meals are delivered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Group Dining Site Volunteers lend a hand by helping prepare and serve or coordinating/sponsoring an activity, group outings, dancing, singing and parties. To become a volunteer in the Oak Lawn area, please contact Marie Arrigoni at (708) 422-5180 or arrigoni@cnnmow.org.
The Pride of Oregon Paddlewheel Riverboat Cruise and Luncheon sponsored by the Senior Fellowship Group in Oak Lawn departs Thursday, May 15 from Trinity Lutheran Church at 9701 S. Brandt Ave.
The cost is $37 for members and $38 for non-members. Included is a meal, tax, tip and transportation. For reservations, call Mickey at (708) 422-2355.
The Oak Lawn Senior Center, 5330 W. 95th St., is hosting Senior Citizen Safety, with the Cook County Sheriff’s Department offering “do” and “don’t” tips on personal, home and vehicle safety. The program takes place at 10 a.m. Monday, May 19. From 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, May 21, a Senior Citizen Safety Expo will be held and sponsored by the Oak Lawn Community Partnership. Together We Cope is collecting school supplies to accommodate 1,000 plus children.
Pens, pencils, rulers, glue, notebook paper, notebooks, backpacks are some suggestions of the supplies being collected. Volunteers will be needed for sorting and distributing the donations.
If you are interested in running a school supply event with your organization, school or parish, please contact Ann at (708) 633-5040.
Enjoy this great weather while it lasts…this is the Chicago area, after all.
Keep in touch by contacting me at (708) 422-0949 or e-mailing DMZ92@yahoo.com to share your celebrations, outings and special events in the area.
All the best, Donna.