Senior Stretch & Stroll

Thursday morning, Sept. 3
Minnesota State Fairgrounds

A great time was had by all attending the 7th annual State's Largest Senior Stretch & Stroll at the 2009 Minnesota State Fair!

UCare, Volunteers of America, and HealthEast Care System welcomed more than 1,000 Minnesota seniors in Carousel Park (in front of the grandstand) on Thursday morning, Sept. 3, which also was Seniors Day at the Fair.

A sunny morning and live music greeted Stretch & Stroll participants as they lined up in the Park before 9 a.m. and quickly moved through the registration lines that opened at 9:30 a.m. The first 1,000 participants received free door prizes, including a lime green event
T-shirt, a resistance excercise band, and a reusable/eco-friendly water bottle with sling.

The event's 10 a.m. program kicked off with greetings from UCare's Nancy Feldman, CEO; Wayne Olson, senior vice president of operations, Volunteers of America; guest host Mike Binkley, WCCO-TV, and Ghita Worcester UCare's Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Marketing. This team encouraged the audience to "stretch their body, mind, and self" through exercise and a healthful diet, positive lifestyle choices, and stimulating community involvement. Guests then enjoyed an exercise band "class" with two EnhanceFitness^® instructors with UCare's UCan! senior fitness program.

HealthEast nurses conducted blood pressure and diabetes screenings in the park throughout the day. Many participants who strolled one of the suggested fairground walking "loops" returned to the park to receive a UCare reflector wristband. Prizes were award in a voluntary raffle prize drawing.

Join us next year at the 8th annual The State's Largest Senior Stretch & Stroll on Thursday,
Sept. 2, 2010.