Anyone who is considering walking their way to health may be encouraged by the success of the recently formed InMotion Club. Each member is a client of Sunflower Diversified Services, which serves people with developmental disabilities.
“Many of our walkers are losing weight, and enjoying more stamina, self-confidence, energy and that all-important feeling of accomplishment,” said Sherry Fleming, Sunflower therapy aide. “One woman has lost 30 pounds and another is now able to have a surgery she needs thanks to her significant weight loss.”
In addition, Fleming noted, the members’ social skills are being enhanced. “They have developed a keener sense of empathy and awareness of others’ feelings,” Fleming explained. “One woman uses an oxygen tank and her peers help her with it; another member uses a walker and can also count on his friends to lend a hand.”
There are two groups in the 15-member club that walk three days a week at various locations, including the Expo Area, Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo and Veterans’ Park. InMotion members have been walking in the morning during the heat wave; they cover between one and two miles in about 30 minutes.
If they keep faithfully to their schedule, they earn an outing. Walkers recently went to the Hutchinson Zoo and a trip to the Eisenhower Museum at Abilene is in the works.
“We go to locations where walking is involved, and everyone loves it,” Fleming said. “Actually, some of us went on a trip to Topeka that was not related to the walking club. But they all wanted to find a place to get their walk in. They are learning the importance of taking care of themselves.”
Club members also represented four teams in the recent Walk Kansas event. In addition to their regular schedule, they added to their walking time evenings and weekends for the competition.
“It is extremely gratifying to see how enthusiastic they are,” Fleming said. “And there are ripple effects. Some walkers who didn’t want to participate in many social activities in the past are now the first ones ready to go. Our Fourth of July gathering was a recent example.
“They are more comfortable, confident and open,” Fleming explained. “And they are in better shape physically.”
One club member said she feels better about everything since she started walking. Another said, “We really enjoy having Sherry walking with us. We look forward to it all the time.”
Club members are equipped with pedometers and club T-shirts.
Sunflower serves infants, toddlers and adults in Barton, Pawnee, Rice, Rush and Stafford counties.