NORWAY — The walking program begun more than a year ago by the Norway/Paris Active Community Environment Team has produced more than its goal of healthier and more active residents.

Two participants met at the weekly walks, got married and hiked national parks in the West on their honeymoon. And a 74-year-old woman finished two 5k events as well as a 10.5-mile walk in the Mt. Desert Island Marathon, according to a news release from Healthy Oxford Hills.

The idea for a walking program came from the team, whose aim was to get more people active and healthy. Over a year ago, team member Rachael Follansbee recognized there wasn’t much to support those people needing to start a habit of physical activity. She suggested a walking group in partnership with Healthy Oxford Hills and Stephens Memorial Hospital.

Throughout the winter of 2013-14, walkers met Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in Paris.

Priscilla Nickerson and Armand Bonneau met there in January 2014 and married later that year. Their fall honeymoon included hiking the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Bryce and Canyonlands national parks, the news release said.

Pat Stanley-Beals, 74, also got involved with the walking group in January 2014. She upped her walking from one to two days a week, lost 40 pounds and moved on to participate in a 5k organized by REACH, the news release said.

After another 5k she was approached to be part of a 3-part relay team for the Mt. Desert Island Marathon in October. To alleviate the burden of partners who hadn’t been able to train as much, she volunteered to take a 10.5 mile leg of the walk. The picturesque course is full of hills and made for a very difficult walk, but she met her goal, according to the release.

Many other members of the walking group have also shared positive results, such as losing weight, feeling better, enjoying socializing and developing new relationships, organizers said.

The walking group continues to meet Tuesdays from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. at the high school on Route 26. The school is also available for people to walk whenever it open. During school hours, visitors must check in at the main office to receive a visitor’s pass.

To register, call 743-1562, ext. 6896. For information contact Brendan Schauffler, Healthy Oxford Hills, at 890-6323 or email [email protected].

Healthy Oxford Hills is a community coalition and a project of Stephens Memorial Hospital. It is one of the Healthy Maine Partnerships in the state public health system.