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Press Releases
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Press ReleaseIndependence Blue Cross Sets the Pace for a Healthier LifestyleIBC hosts the city's inaugural National Walk @ Lunch Day Philadelphia, PA - May 5, 2008 - More than 4,000 people walked circles around City Hall on April 30 to take part in Philadelphia's inaugural National Walk @ Lunch Day, sponsored by Independence Blue Cross (IBC). The city was not alone as IBC's regional offices and a number of IBC's customer employer groups organized walks of their own in various locations. IBC and other Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies across the 50 states confirmed, through this nationwide initiative, that it is possible to incorporate physical activity into the hectic lifestyles many Americans are trying to balance. Philadelphia walkers, in a sea of bright blue IBC t-shirts, lapped City Hall three times to complete their route. Many reached out to accept a bottle of water or a piece of fruit from volunteers along the way, but all walkers had something in common. Everyone participating had a smile on their face, demonstrating the enjoyment found in walking as a group. Supporting each other on the road to healthier lifestyles is just one of the many attitudes that National Walk @ Lunch Day encouraged. IBC president and CEO Joseph A. Frick, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, former Philadelphia Eagles coach Dick Vermeil, and Benjamin Franklin in full colonial dress, delivered motivating remarks to an enthusiastic crowd at a press conference during the walk at City Hall. "Our mission is to help our members and encourage our communities to stay well," Frick said, "and by offering programs like National Walk @ Lunch Day we are able to support them every step of the way toward healthier living. Walking is one of the simplest paths to better health, and through this event we were able to successfully convey this message to our community." He noted that tens of thousand of people representing Blue plans across the country walked to emphasize the importance of walking to stay fit and to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Frick explained that IBC expects future years' National Walk @ Lunch Day events to grow with even more participation from employer groups and their associates. "This year we had 18 suburban and center city employer customers get involved in walking for health on April 30," Frick said. "Next year we'd like to triple that number for 2009." IBC has received feedback indicating that this event has inspired associates to exercise on a regular basis and develop personal walking routines. Many employer group wellness program leaders are on this same path, encouraging their employees to carry the enthusiasm behind the national event into daily fitness programs. "National Walk @ Lunch Day was the kick-off to the spring walking program we are offering our employees," said Rachael DeHart, senior human resources generalist for Complete HealthCare Resources in Dresher, Pennsylvania. "Our employees had a great time and seemed to enjoy the t-shirts we made for them and the team spirit they felt as part of the event." DeHart reported that five of their locations are participating in the walking challenge program they kicked off on April 30. She explained that this exercise incentive rewards the team that has the greatest percentage of miles walked per employee at the end of the program. Last year the winning team members received gift cards. "We provided our employees with pedometers as part of the open enrollment period for making their health care selections in March, which led so nicely into the National Walk @ Lunch Day event because they were already equipped to start a walking routine," said Erin Bushnell, human resources specialist for Pennoni Associates, an engineering consulting firm in the tri-state area. "Twenty of our offices in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey participated in Walk @ Lunch Day on April 30, and we have been encouraging them to use the event as a kick-off for a regular walking for fitness program," she added. She noted that in locations where there are a few employees who walk regularly, they had the highest levels of participation, as those employees served as champions to build team enthusiasm and camaraderie. The National Walk @ Lunch Day is just one of the many ways through which IBC encourages healthier living. Walking can help individuals look better, feel better, and increase their energy levels. Studies show that a daily routine of brisk-paced walking daily can help walkers lose weight, lower cholesterol, strengthen the heart, and reduce the likelihood of serious health problems down the road. This program is meant to complement busy schedules, not complicate them, and every step counts. Independence Blue Cross |