July 26, 2024

Good morning!

Dr. Sabgir is traveling with his family (and doing a lot of walking!) so he wasn't able to write a goofy newsletter this week.

Before he left, Dr. Sabgir sat down with Ed Ryan for a discussion on Walk with a Doc, the benefits of walking, and information about our new partnership with Grouper, which allows walkers age 65+ with an eligible health plan to get paid for attending Walk with a Doc events.

Your homework assignment for the weekend is to take a walk and listen to the interview. Here are a few of our favorite quotes from the video to get you motivated:

"I truly believe walking is the miracle drug. There's nothing I can prescribe or do that matches what walking can provide."

"If all the benefits of walking were in pill form... You would never be able to afford it. You would never be able to find it. It's THAT powerful... It's unmatched."

Dr. Sabgir also provided some incredible stats about the power of walking:

• Reduces risk of heart attack and stroke by 50%
• Helps prevent 13 different types of cancer (including breast, lung, and esophageal)
• Improves mental health (48% reduction in anxiety, 47% reduction in depression)
• #1 treatment for osteoarthritis
• Reduces risk of Alzheimer's by 50%
• And many more

Have a great weekend!

- The Walk with a Doc Team

July is Social Wellness Month! We love that Walk with a Doc allows people to not only get physical activity and learn important health information, but that it builds meaningful relationships within the community. According to the US Surgeon General, these social connections have the power to transform our whole health and well-being. Walk with a Doc events are free and open to people of all ages and abilities.

• Premier Partner: Fresno, CA, Community Health Partners
• Atlanta, GA Faith in Motion Antioch Baptist Church North 
• Bryan, TX, City of Bryan Parks and Recreation - Sponsored by the TMA
• Central Falls, RI, Jenks Park Pediatrics
• Garden City, KS, Accelacare Physical Therapy
• Phoenix, AZ, Arizona Falls Prevention Coalition
• West Bloomfield MI, Serenity Osteopathic Medicine PLLC

No Walk in your area?

• Share the program with your local healthcare professionals - click here.
• Get notified when a chapter starts in your area - click here.
• Join us virtually in the meantime - click here.

***Thank you to the donors whose generous support provided scholarship funding that helped launch these new Walk chapters. If you'd like to help get more people walking in other communities, click here to make a donation.

Thank you to everyone who joined a walk in May or June and entered the raffle for a pair of shoes. Big thanks to On for the generous donation, and congrats to our winners!! Your shoes will be arriving in the coming weeks.

Benjamin in Tyler, Betty in Jamestown, Brenda in New Bern, Brian in Plano, Carolyn in Milwaukee, Cassandra in Cooleemee, Charles in Lexington, Charlotte in Thornton, Cheryl in Terre Haute, Emily in Saint Joseph, Emma in Las Vegas, Gayle in Pleasant Lake, Heena in Lincolnwood, Jill in Verona, JM in Everett, John in Perry, Jordan in Havelock, Jose in Winnsboro, Karen in Winchester, Kathryn in Katy, Kathy in Florissant, Keith in Detroit, Kim in Belton, Kimberly in Plano, Laureen in Omaha, Lilinoe in Las Vegas, Lisa in Columbus, Margaret in Rochester, Miriam in Kissimmee, Nitin in Ellicott City, Regina in Columbus, Ruthie in Deer Park, Shirley in Tyler, Sonia in Boynton Beach, Susan in Rochester, Suzanne in Brunswick, Tice in Montgomery, Tracy in Gaffney, Trung in Stone Mountain, Zoe in Pittsburgh

Dr. Erica Solis and Dr. Sarah Ashitey partnered together to bring Walk with a Doc to West Dallas. The group had a successful kickoff in the spring, and has carried the momentum each month into the summer. Way to go West Dallas walkers! Thanks to the Texas Medical Association for sponsoring this chapter, and over 60 others throughout Texas.

Follow our social media channels for WWAD updates, health tips, and more!

About Walk with a Doc:

As an international non-profit organization, Walk with a Doc is committed to inspiring communities through movement and conversation with walking groups led by local doctors, healthcare providers, or medical students.

Started in 2005 by Dr. David Sabgir, a cardiologist in Columbus, Ohio, the program now extends to over 560 communities throughout the world. The walks are a fun, free, and safe place to get physical activity, learn about health, and meet new people.

Learn more at www.walkwithadoc.org