For the second year in a row, Westchester Square Physical Therapy is encouraging fitness and fighting arthritis.
In conjunction with the Arthritis Foundation, WSPT is hosting its Second Annual Treadmill Walk-A-Thon, which will be concluding on Friday, January 28. A kick-off event was held on Wednesday, January 19. To be a part of the walk-a-thon, Bronxites must donate to the Arthritis Foundation at WSPT, which each year sponsors a team to walk in the Arthritis Walk. This year the walk is on Sunday, May 15, in Battery Park.
“Everyone who donates can use any of our treadmills and they can come at any time. We will be logging their distance and the furthest walker gets a prize. Anyone can join Team WSPT by registering in our office to walk with us in Battery Park,” said program coordinator Sharon Sathuthiti, who is also captain of the walking team. “We’re trying to get people motivated to walk with us.”
About 15 people came to register at the kick-off event and 20 more signed-up beforehand. Sathuthiti expects many more will sign up throughout the week, since anyone, not just members, can participate in the event.
Last year the event raised nearly $1,500 for the arthritis walk. So far $2,305 has been donated to the arthritis walk.
The therapy center has four regular treadmills and one that is underwater in their heated pool used for aqua-therapy exercises.
According to Sathuthiti, the event began as a way to get the community involved in arthritis prevention, which affects the lives of many of the WSPT patients. She said holding it in the winter encourages people suffering from arthritis to continue to exercise during the colder months, and to keep people aware and engaged in the fight against arthritis.
“We’ve always supported arthritis research, but we wanted to bring it indoors because many of our patients have arthritis. We have the treadmills available, and we do aqua-therapy in our heated pool. If they’re already doing therapy, they can make a donation and log their time. If they’re not already members, it’s almost like you’re getting a membership for the week,” she said. “Really, we want them to exercise. We want to promote health.”
To participate in the Arthritis Walk-a-Thon with WSPT or to just make a donation, call 347-709-WSPT.
