11th Street Family Health Services Holds First Annual Gobble Gallop Event
December 2, 2013
The brisk November weather did not deter participants from gathering at 11th Street Family Health Services of Drexel University on Saturday, November 16 for the health center’s first annual “Gobble Gallop,” a 2.06 mile course designed by 11th Street Fitness Trainer John Kirby.
The brisk walking route looped through the local neighborhood and included several stops at community partner sites, where representatives were on hand to talk about the wide array of programs and services available there. The main goals of this event were to teach the importance of walking and running and how both help increase health status, as well as to increase local community members’ awareness of the services and facilities that are easily accessible in the area. In attendance were Patty Gerrity, PhD, Director of 11th Street Family Health Services, and members of the College of Nursing and Health Professions’ faculty like Sarah Wenger, an assistant clinical professor in the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Department.
John Kirby kicked off the start of the event with a brief warm-up, followed by the first brisk trot to stop number one, the Althea Gibson Community Education and Tennis Center, where participants watched a live youth class take place. Participants then continued on to the John F. Street Community Center followed by the Guild House West, West Poplar Community Center, the new mural at Spring Garden Elementary School, St Paul’s Baptist Church and the Friends Neighborhood Guild. Teens 4 Good was the final stop, where that group was hosting their own fall festival event. After the last stop, participants ended at 11th Street Family Health Services with a yoga and cool down stretch.
John Kirby commented on the success of the event. “The event was a great success, with 50 patients and 10 staff members coming out to enjoy the day. The walk lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes, included a calisthenics warm-up, Dance/Movement Therapy demonstration, standing yoga, stretching cool-down, and presentations about the various partner organizations. We are grateful to everyone who participated and our partner organization that helped with the planning.”