Special Olympics athletes in Owensboro have been lacing up their shoes and getting in their steps at a local park.

Jennifer Hamilton, Healthy Athlete Ambassador who participates with the Daviess County Special Olympics program, organized a Walking Club with the goal of helping fellow athletes to improve their health. She is putting the training she received at a Healthy Ambassador Training session this summer in Washington DC. 

Each club session begins with Jennifer presenting a lesson on making healthy choices. Topics have included setting healthy weight goals, reducing sugary drinks, eating healthy snacks, and learning the importance of stretching. Club members have been setting/tracking weekly goals on exercise, eating fruits & vegetables, and drinking water. The goal is for athletes to continue to work on those goals after the walking club ends. After the lesson, the whole group takes a walk in the park.  

In the most recent club meeting, the members were able to walk 2.4 miles together. 

The fall session of the Walking Club will end soon but Jennifer is making plans for a winter session.

The club is considering training to walk in a local  5k race in April of 2025.

For information about how your local program can add Healthy Athletes elements to your activities, contact Brennan Smith, Health and Wellness Director, at 502-695-8222 or [email protected].