News

Beebe Medical Center Supports Lewes Steps Out

06/26/08

For the third summer in a row, the City of Lewes is inviting
people of all ages in the area to join in the Lewes Steps Out For Fitness program. The
kick-off ceremony, registration, and Family Night, complete with face painting and a
magic show, will take place 6 p.m., Thursday, June 26, at the George H.P. Smith Park in
Lewes.

This year's theme is "Make Every Minute Count," and with that new theme is a change
in the goal of the event. Instead of having participants add up the 'steps' they walk or run,
participants will add up the minutes that they spend in healthy activities that get their
hearts pumping and improve their overall physical fitness.

"Summer is a time when people can get outside and enjoy our city and the beautiful
environs around us," says Lewes Mayor Jim Ford. "So, this year we want to support
people in all the activities they enjoy, such as sailing, kayaking, swimming, skating and
bicycling, as well as walking and running, knowing that it's the minutes that count, not
the miles."

The objective of this year's Lewes Steps Out Committee is to get 400 participants to
exercise 30 minutes each day for five days a week, between June 26 and September 18,
equaling 720,000 minutes of healthy exercise. All participants will receive stopwatches
when they sign up so that they can count the minutes they exercise.

Participants will gather every other Thursday evening at 6 p.m. to take part in fitness-
related programs and to share in the fun. Nurses from Beebe Medical Center will be on
hand to check blood pressures every evening. This year the gatherings will take place at
the lovely green setting of the George H.P. Smith Park, which surrounds Block House
Pond. The park is so centrally located that Lewes residents are encouraged to walk and
ride their bicycles to the events. For those who drive, parking is free and available in the
park's parking lot, in the Consortium's parking lot that is adjacent to the park, and in the
Beebe Medical Center parking lot nearest to the park.

"We want to encourage people of all ages to come out for the activities," says Betsy
Reamer, Executive Director of the Lewes Chamber of Commerce. "Those who are unable
to come the first night to register, can register at any one of the Thursday events."


Those events include:
" June 26: Kick-off and sign-up event and family night with magic by Charlie Joseph and
face painting by Kim Klabe.
" July 10: Tai Chi demonstration and group activity with Mark Blaskey of Beebe
Medical Center.
" July 24: Bicycle Safety Night with demonstrations, information and an organized ride;
presentations by Lewes Police Department.
" August 7: Yoga demonstration by Quest Fitness.
" August 21: Pilates demonstration by Quest Fitness.
" September 4: Healthy cooking demonstration and healthy recipes by Beseme
restaurant.
" September 18: Closing ceremony and awards presentations to take place at Lewes
Public Beach.


Lewes Steps Out For Fitness is sponsored by the City of Lewes, Lewes Chamber of
Commerce and Visitors Bureau, Quest Fitness, Beebe Medical Center and Cape Gazette.
Members of the organizing committee are: Lewes Mayor Jim Ford; Betsy Reamer, Lewes
Chamber of Commerce; Wally Evans, Lewes Fire Department; Matt Carter of Quest
Fitness; Dennis Forney, Publisher of the Cape Gazette; Jeffrey M. Fried, FACHE,
President and CEO of Beebe Medical Center; Mark Thompson, Director of Public
Relations and Community Health for Beebe Medical Center; and Peggy Diehl, RN, MSN,
CEN, Beebe Medical Center Community Health Nurse Coordinator.

For further information about Lewes Steps Out For Fitness, contact Betsy Reamer,
Executive Director of the Lewes Chamber of Commerce at 645-8073.

Beebe Medical Center is a not-for-profit community medical center with a charitable
mission to encourage healthy living, prevent illness, and restore optimal health with the
people residing, working, or visiting in the communities we serve. For more information,
please visit us online at www.beebemed.org