Greetings to the people of the southern “barbecue belt.” I’m thrilled to be back here walking 600 miles on the Million Step March.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has put together an unprecedented walking and fitness campaign, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it. Four years ago, in 2004, I walked through this state as part of The Million Calorie March – a 1,200-mile grassroots walking campaign from Florida to Boston.
I lost 110 pounds before that walk (from 397 pounds to 288) by eating right and getting physical activity, and then another 40 pounds on the cross-country walk itself. Since then I’ve been taking my message all around the country – that anyone can achieve a measurable degree of health if they make the commitment. I’m still struggling to lose more weight, but I think I’ve achieved the better health part.
Has anybody out there ever run a marathon? A couple of years ago I ran the Boston Marathon. Now don’t get me wrong – the winner was shaved, showered, had his check cashed and on the plane back to Kenya before I hit the finish line – but I finished, and that’s the message I am bringing to the people of North Carolina. I want you to think about achieving good health – not just looking good. It’s about being around for your kids and grandkids.
I come here to North Carolina not as a pitchman for weight loss, but for commitment. If Kathy Higgins from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina can make a commitment to walk 600 miles – from the mountains of Asheville to the shores of Wilmington – can you make the commitment to build 30 to 60 minutes of walking into your life on most days?
I look forward to spending time in places like Asheville, Hickory, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh, Fayetteville, Wilmington and many places in between. In this corner of the world, and in this great state, maybe we can make a difference and inspire, educate and motivate people to dig deep to improve their health – once and for all.
See you on the road when we come through your town! Keep checking at this site, www.BetterHealthNC.com, for details and to see how we’re doing.
Posted by Gary Marino on March 16, 2008