The Auburn-Lewiston YMCA is asking the public help them tally an additional 1 million “extra steps” during America on the Move Week, Sept. 25 to 29.

Local YMCA asks businesses, groups to take ‘extra steps’

AUBURN – The Auburn-Lewiston YMCA is putting out a call to local business, organizations and individuals to take some “extra steps” during America on the Move Week, Sept. 25 to 29.

“Nationwide we are experiencing an obesity epidemic,” said YMCA health and wellness director Doug McFarland. “During America on the Move Week we are asking everyone to take an additional 2,000 steps a day to help themselves physically and also help us meet our goal of walking an additional 1 million steps in our community.”

He said, “The nationwide goal is 1 billion steps. Walking 2,000 steps is the equivalent of walking one mile. But there are dozens of other activities that can be done, such as swimming, dancing, racquetball, bicycling, mowing the lawn or playing tennis that can be converted to steps. The only requirement is that these activities are ‘extra steps’ in addition to what one would normally do on a typical day. Our Web site, www.alymca.com, lists nearly 50 activities that can be done and how many steps they are worth.”

“The YMCA wants to do all we can to help people eat healthier and we’ve also listed a lot of helpful information on that at our Web site,” McFarland said. “We all live pretty busy lives but we all need to focus more on eating healthier and getting more exercise.”

The YMCA is hoping the community steps up to take some “extra steps” during America on the Move Week the last week of September. Call McFarland at 794-4095, e-mail him at [email protected], check out the Web site or stop by the YMCA at 62 Turner St. for more information.

The YMCA will also host an open house during America on the Move Week. They are offering free use of most of the facility, door prizes, health information and healthy refreshments. The YMCA invites everyone to “step by.”