Waxahachie Senior Center members walk more than 7K miles in health challenge
The Ellis County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service announces the successful completion of the Walk Across Texas! program by the Waxahachie Senior Center.
The program is a statewide initiative by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service aimed at promoting physical activity among Texans. Over the course of eight weeks, more than 65 senior participants collectively logged more than 7,000 miles, fostering healthier lifestyles and stronger community bonds.
The Walk Across Texas! program encourages teams to virtually traverse the 832-mile width of Texas by engaging in various physical activities, including walking, biking, dancing, and gardening. Participants track their activities, which are converted into mileage, promoting a fun and competitive environment that motivates individuals to stay active. The senior center added a new walking group, called the Waxahachie Wonders, which kicked off with a Walk Across Texas! event.
To celebrate the achievement, the Ellis County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service hosted a recognition event at the senior center. The celebration featured certificates highlighting individual mileage accomplishments, special recognitions for the top 10 mile-earners, and door prizes. Special recognition was given to senior center director John Smith and Debbie Bryant for continuously supporting AgriLife programming at the facility.
“Participating in Walk Across Texas! has been an invigorating experience for our seniors,” Smith said. “Not only did it promote physical health, but it also strengthened our community spirit. Now we have a walking group on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and it helped to kickstart so many of our seniors to get active.”
The Walk Across Texas! program has a rich history of encouraging Texans to adopt active lifestyles. Since its inception in 1996, more than 650,000 participants have joined the initiative, with research confirming its effectiveness in increasing and maintaining physical activity levels among diverse populations.
For more information about the Walk Across Texas! program or to get involved, contact the Ellis County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office at 972-825-5175 or visit https://ellis.agrilife.org.
