Walk Nashville Week (Oct. 4-10) begins Saturday

The 10th annual Walk Nashville Week will kick off Saturday, October 4, with a variety of events geared to get everyone moving for better health. All of the events for the week are free.

This year will feature walks to school, work, lunch, and church among others. With an established and growing network of sidewalks and greenways, Nashvillians can get out and walk for better health. The Health Department encourages anyone who wants to participate to register for these events on the www.nashvillechwt.org Web site.

• “Walk as One,” Saturday, Oct. 4: Community Nashville’s 6th annual “Walk as One” unity walk brings together people from every sector of our community. Join us as we walk to fight against bias, bigotry and racism. The walk will take place in Centennial Park. Walkers will gather at 7 a.m. for registration at the Centennial Art Center 25th Avenue North & Park Plaza. The walk begins at 9 a.m. around Centennial Park. For additional information, call Trey Lipman at (615) 327-1755.
  
  
• Walk to Worship Day, Sunday, Oct. 5: Worshippers throughout Davidson County are encouraged to strengthen their bodies and spirits by walking and celebrating wellness together. Information concerning area faith walks can be found on the website, www.nashvillechwt.org.
  
  
• Walk to Work Day, Monday, Oct. 6: Physical activity boosts your productivity and brain power. Participate by parking a little further away than usual and walk the rest of the way! Those who work downtown are invited to join in the fun at the corner of Second and Union for free bagels and coffee from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.
  
  
• Walk Your Neighborhood Day, Tuesday, Oct. 7: Enjoy a brisk walk around your neighborhood. Join your neighbors and walk together. Several Nashville area neighborhood associations are participating.
  
  
• Walk to School Day, Wednesday, Oct. 8: Walking to school can be a fun and helps a student to become more physically fit. It also allows the community to identify opportunities to improve walking conditions around the schools. This year more than 5,000 students and parents will join Mayor Dean, Council Members, School Board members, and other community leaders as they walk to elementary and middle schools in Davidson County. Mayor Dean will be part of a group that will walk to Park Avenue Elementary at 3703 Park Avenue. Local dignitaries will gather at Auto Zone located at 3913 Charlotte Avenue at 7:15 a.m. to walk with the students and gather for a short presentation at the school. A list of participating schools is located at www.nashvillechwt.org.
  
  
• Walk for Active Aging Day, Thursday, Oct. 9: This walk encourages people age 50 and over to enjoy walking to enhance their health and quality of life. Several community centers and malls will host walks for area seniors. For more information concerning the Metro Parks Center Walks, contact Jackie Jones at (615) 862-8400. In addition, at 12:30 p.m. FiftyForward Adult Day Services participants will be walking around the Second Presbyterian Church grounds (3511 Belmont Boulevard). The group has been learning about the health benefits of walking. For more information concerning the FiftyForward walk, contact ADS director Bonnie Brink at (615) 463-2266.
  
  
• Walk to Lunch Day, Friday, Oct. 10: Walking is a healthy alternative to driving at lunch time. This day serves to remind us that walking is a great lunch time activity that can enhance your energy for the rest of the day. Several restaurants in the Downtown area are offering discounts to those that walk to lunch. Check out www.nashvillechwt.com for a listing of participating restaurants.