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Walk Across Illinois Million Miles



Lt. Governor Pat Quinn joined nearly 70 Chicago Park District summer campers at Lakeshore Park in Chicago to celebrate crossing the million-mile mark in the Walk Across Illinois Program, an online fitness initiative that has enrolled nearly 10,000 participants.

"In less than two years, children and adults throughout the Land of Lincoln have logged more than one million miles in the Walk Across Illinois program," Quinn said. "That�s equivalent to nearly 6,000 trips from the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan - or two round-trip journeys from the Earth to the moon."

To celebrate the milestone, Quinn joined students participating in the Walk Across Illinois Kids Program through the Chicago Park District�s summer camps.

Walk Across Illinois is a virtual, online, interactive trek from Rock Island on the Mississippi River to Chicago�s Lake Michigan shoreline, following the path Quinn took in 2001 when he hiked across Illinois to promote decent healthcare for all. By giving participants a clear goal with fitness tips and other information provided along the way, Walk Across Illinois encourages both exercise novices and more active participants to make walking part of their everyday life.

"Walk Across Illinois helps people to understand just how simple it can be to include walking or other fitness activities in each day�s list of things to do," Quinn said. "I salute all the participants for helping to make Walk Across Illinois such a great success, and I encourage everyone else to try the program and start on the path toward better health."

Quinn launched Walk Across Illinois in August 2005 at the Illinois State Fair. The program now includes specialized initiatives for elementary schools, summer camps, and after-school programs.

"Walk Across Illinois has inspired our summer camp participants to get outside and enjoy exercise instead of passively watching television or playing video games," said Chicago Park District Superintendent Tim Mitchell. "We hope this experience will help these children to stay active once school begins in the fall."

Participants can log miles by walking and running, or by converting everyday tasks such as mowing the lawn into an equivalent walking distance. The program also encourages participants to explore more than 700 miles of walking trails throughout Illinois.

Walk Across Illinois participants can start taking their first steps by signing up at WalkAcrossIllinois.org . Walk Across Illinois participants also receive e-mail updates with health tips, hiking ideas, and suggestions of great places in Illinois to take a walk.

For more information about the program, visit WalkAcrossIllinois.org or call program coordinator Dan Persky at 312-814-8796.