MUW Gets Boost From BCBS For Walking Track

PRESS RELEASE

COLUMBUS, Miss. – Mississippi University for Women’s Passport to Wellness initiative will soon break ground on a new walking path, having been awarded a $244,255 grant from the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation.

The Passport to Wellness initiative is now extended into its third year, and the funding will also support current wellness programs in place at the University.

The mile-long track, which will be about five feet wide, will be complete with a concrete walkway, location markers, solar crosswalk lighting markers, painted crosswalk markings and surface coating. The walking path is expected to be complete around May 1, 2017, barring any delays in construction.

April Barlow, interim associate director for the Office of Outreach and Innovation at The W,  said, “Our third year of programming will continue to address the problem of unhealthy lifestyle choices related to diet and physical activity. We are excited to once again be able to work toward a healthier campus and community.

“The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation is pleased to continue its support of MUW and its efforts to support the health and wellness of students, faculty, staff and the citizens of Lowndes County,” said Sheila Grogan, executive director of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation. “The walking path will be an excellent addition to the innovative programs and resources already in place that are making a positive impact on campus and in the surrounding communities and schools.”

The Passport to Wellness initiative at The W is in partnership with the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation. The initiative is geared toward educating participants and encouraging action toward healthier lifestyles. The program operates within Columbus/Lowndes County to serve the residents of this community.

The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation is committed to supporting Mississippi’s universities and colleges in implementing healthy eating and exercise initiatives that extend from the campus to the local communities and schools. Learn more about the work of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation at www.healthiermississippi.org.