The Big Foot Trail is a 3 kilometer loop around Valemount, and it’s a great way to start a new Walk Around the World campaign.
The challenge is for Valemount residents to collectively walk the distance of the circumference of the earth, which is about 40,000 kilometers, or about 65 million steps, within 5 years. On the morning of May 4, lots of locals met at Centennial Park to be the first to register.
The idea behind the ongoing event, sponsored by Northern Health and the Village of Valemount is that many British Columbians are not active enough, and walking is an easy way to increase physical activity and reduce health risks like obesity, coronary heart disease, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. Benefits of walking include lowered blood pressure, reduced cholesterol and body fat, increased mental wellbeing and bone density and many more. Walking is free, can be done almost anywhere, is within most people’s capabilities, and the risk of injury is low.
When you register, you receive a pedometer, health passport and log in access to the Valemount Walks Around the World website, where you can record your progress.
You can still sign up for the Walk Around the World campaign! Contact someone on the organizing committee such as Hollie Blanchette to receive your package including a pedometer.
By Korie Marshall
