Press Release - Friday, March 31, 2006
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Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn Celebrates "Moon Walk Day" in Peoria!
PEORIA - Friday, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn joined the Peoria Area Labor Management Council (PALM) in launching the Peoria Tri-County Moon Walk. The annual event challenges Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford County residents to collectively walk the distance to the moon and back - 477,400 miles - before residents in Rockford and the Quad Cities can do the same.
Quinn was joined by PALM Executive Director Dave Koehler and Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis, who will declare March 31 "Moon Walk Day" in Peoria.
"There is no better time to kick-start your commitment to a healthier lifestyle," Quinn said. "The Moon Walk is an easy way to get your friends and family involved in something new, active, and healthy - and the miles count toward your Walk Across Illinois goals."
An avid proponent of walking for health and wellness, Quinn launched Walk Across Illinois last year. The program is designed to encourage Illinois residents to walk at least 167 miles, the equivalent of walking across Illinois from the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan. In August of 2001, Quinn hiked 167 miles from the Mississippi River in Rock Island to Lake Michigan in Chicago to promote decent health care for everyone.
So far, 4,595 Walk Across Illinois participants have logged 253,494 miles. Already, 389 Illinois citizens have completed the 167-mile challenge.
Together, Walk Across Illinois and the Peoria Moon Walk have Illinois residents on the move. Last year, the Moon Walk enticed nearly 4,100 people and 99 teams to log a total of 733,704 miles in only three months. Moon Walkers made their round trip to the moon in just 10 weeks to beat challengers from the Rockford area.
"Whether you're walking to the moon and back, or walking across Illinois," Quinn said, "Illinois residents are setting an example in healthy living."
To apply Moon Walk miles to Walk Across Illinois miles, visit www.WalkAcrossIllinois.org. The interactive Web site allows walkers to track their progress on a virtual walk across Illinois. Participants can post questions to a registered dietician and receive e-mail updates with health tips, hiking ideas, and great Illinois places to walk.
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