Step into Wellness Brings People Together

New Hope Community team walking together during the challenge.

 Participants walked almost 300 miles during Sullivan 180’s National Wellness Month Walking Challenge

[LIBERTY, NY] Sullivan 180’s Step into Wellness challenge brought over 170 participants together on 29 teams during August, encouraging people across Sullivan County to make wellness part of their everyday routines.

Held during National Wellness Month, the countywide challenge invited teams of two or more to walk together at least once each week. With no required steps or miles, Step into Wellness centered on participation, consistency and connection. By the end of the month, participants reported walking 298.5 miles through trails, parks, neighborhoods, school tracks and community spaces.

Participant feedback showed walkers spent more time with others, became more active, discovered new places to walk and found simple ways to incorporate movement into their routines. Some planned to continue walking after the challenge.

“We wanted Step into Wellness to show that taking care of your health doesn’t have to be complicated,” said Anne-Louise Scandariato, Sullivan 180 Director of Community Engagement. “A simple walk can be a meaningful step toward wellness. Seeing people make the challenge their own and want to keep walking is exactly what we hoped would happen.”

Teams walked during lunch breaks and after work, gathered with family and friends and welcomed new members. Some joined virtually through FaceTime, incorporated walks into vacations and community events, or challenged themselves with longer walks and runs. Walkers explored the Parksville Rail Trail, Sullivan West Fitness Trail, Neversink Community Park, Walnut Mountain, the O&W Rail Trail and the new Liberty High School track, with many walks extending beyond Sullivan County.

“It was a great opportunity to get outside, stay active, and get in some extra steps,” said Maggie Russell, team captain at New Hope Community. “It was a great reminder of how much there is to discover when you take the time to get outdoors.”

Participating teams will be recognized at Sullivan 180’s Autumn Celebration on September 23 at Bethel Woods. Step into Wellness is part of Sullivan 180’s ongoing work to build a healthier Sullivan County by creating opportunities for people to engage with one another and the places where they live, work, learn and play.

To learn more about Sullivan 180 and upcoming opportunities to get involved, visit Sullivan180.org.