Public invited to “Step It Up” for walk with Mayor Harrison

Local residents are being invited to get out and take a one-mile walk Saturday morning with Williamsburg Mayor Roddy Harrison.

Step It Up-Walk with the Mayor of Williamsburg is a free event that will start at 10 a.m. Saturday at Bill Woods Park.

“The Step Up Program is really a call from the surgeon general to get more communities to promote walking and having a more walking community,” said organizer Kathy Lay. “It is just for fun. It is really encouraging people to get out, walk and be more physically active on a course that is safe and fun.”

She noted that a lot of people look up to Harrison and she hopes this will encourage people to get out there and walk.

Participants are asked to meet at Bill Woods Park by 9:45 a.m. The walk will follow the same route as the Beat the Heat race.

“We are just going to take our time. We will provide water,” Lay added.

Lay said the effort is part of a statewide initiative, Step It Up Kentucky, which encourages communities to promote walking in walk able communities across the state.

Harrison said that his reason for participating is fairly simple. Lay asked him to do it.

“It all stems from trying to promote getting out. We thought this would be a good way to kick it off and maybe get people out,” Harrison said.

Lay said that she has no idea how many people will participate in the inaugural event, but is hoping for at least 50 people.

If the program is successful, Lay hopes to do it with other prominent people in the community, such as Whitley County Judge-Executive Pat White Jr.

Step It Up is a partnership between the mayor’s office and the Whitley County Health Community Coalition.

For more information contact Lay at 549-3380.