A virtual walk across CanadaFraser Health takes it one step at a timeIt takes a lot of footsteps to complete a return trip across Canada, from Victoria to Halifax and back. Nineteen million, to be exact.
Undaunted by the distance, Fraser Health renal unit staff members and their patients took on the challenge – a "virtual" walk across this great country of ours, one step at a time. The project was organized by Fraser Health’s renal dietitians and involved patients at all stages of kidney disease (from predialysis to dialysis), along with nephrologists, managers, nurses, unit clerks, renal technicians, and dietitians from the program’s renal units. The challenge was launched on March 10, 2007, with a walk at Queens Park in New Westminster and Mill Lake in Abbotsford. Shad Ireland, the first dialysis patient to complete an Ironman Triathlon race, was the inspirational guest speaker.
The trip took three months, over which time the progress of each team was displayed in Fraser Health dialysis units and clinics, as well as on its website, which helped inspire some friendly competition. To keep participants motivated, all those who submitted steps were entered into a monthly draw for prizes.
Based on an earlier project developed by Vancouver Island dietitian Nancy Clogg, the virtual walk’s purpose was to promote awareness about the importance of daily physical activity. Acknowledging the efforts of the organizers, in June 2007 Fraser Health awarded its renal dietitians the Above and Beyond award, which recognizes employees whose "actions or attitudes help move the organization forward in a meaningful way by nurturing relationships, inspiring colleagues, clients or patients, or demonstrating a high level of integrity and compassion." |
Participants were divided into four teams, and each participant received a pedometer and log sheets to record how far they walked each day, step by step. The steps were converted into kilometres and tracked along the Trans Canada Highway. |
Copyright ©2007 BC Provincial Renal Agency. An Agency of the Provincial PHSA improves the health of British Columbians by seeking province-wide solutions to specialized health care needs in collaboration with BC health authorities and other partners. For more information, visit www.phsa.ca |
