Mayor Alfred Mae Drakeford to Host “Moms March with the Mayor”

Mayor Alfred Mae Drakeford is joining more than sixty other mayors in a nationwide initiative to reduce heart disease and stroke, the nation’s No. 1 killer, by encouraging residents to get up and get moving. Mayor Drakeford will kick off her “Move with the Mayor” by hosting a Mother’s Day “March with the Mayor” Walk on Saturday, May 13, beginning at Camden City Hall. 

She encourages mothers from the community, and their families, to gather on the front lawn of City Hall, 1000 Lyttleton Street, at 9:00 am to enjoy a one mile walk through Downtown Camden. Advance registration is encouraged at cityofcamden.org/events/mothers-day-march-mayor-walk. This event is sponsored by Graham Realty, First Palmetto Bank, The UPS Store, Craig & Vartorella, and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Iota Omega Omega Chapter. 

The “Move with the Mayor” campaign will continue with a series of physical activity offerings aimed to foster community and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease across the city, including a fitness circuit placed in City Hall Park, a city employee fitness challenge, participation in the second annual Kids to Parks Day on May 20, and more.

Move with the Mayor, a partnership between the City of Camden, LiveWell Kershaw Coalition, and the National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention, is meant to demonstrate that staying active can be fun and rewarding and that even the busiest people can make time for heart-healthy activities. 

“Being physically active can have numerous benefits, such as reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke,” said Mayor Drakeford. “Still, I know it can be hard to fit physical activity into our daily routines. That’s why I’m hosting a series of physical activity events in Camden to show that fitting 30 minutes of activity into even a hectic daily schedule is possible and can be incredibly rewarding.”  

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Research shows that moving for just 30 minutes a day can help combat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, three of the biggest risk factors for heart disease affecting about 48% of all Americans. In Kershaw County, recent studies have shown that 46% of adults have high blood pressure, 38% have high cholesterol, 34% are either diabetic or have prediabetes, and 44% are considered obese. 

It does not have to be that way, because three of every four people can prevent it through healthy diets, living smoke-free and increased physical activity, such as walking, says John Clymer, executive director of the National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention. 

“Seventy-one million Americans do not get enough physical activity in their daily lives, and that increases their risk for heart disease and stroke,” said Clymer. “And by getting up, getting out, and walking more — perhaps from one meeting to another or other ways in their daily lives — a person can reduce his or her risk and have a longer, more active life.”                                                                                               

Mayor Drakeford agrees and says her goal is to motivate Camden residents to walk or move to improve their cardiovascular health. 

“While we’ll be offering a variety of physical activity events throughout the year, I urge Camden residents to find a form of physical activity that they enjoy and stick to it, whether it’s taking the stairs, enjoying one of our many park or hiking trails, swimming, or bike riding,” said Drakeford. “By doing our part, we can help build a healthier, more dynamic community.” 

The CDC recommends that Americans eat healthy diets packed with fruits and vegetables, quit smoking, and move for 30 minutes a day. Additionally, adults should get their cholesterol levels checked via a blood test every five years unless otherwise directed by a doctor. 

“Mayors around the country recognize that by helping people to become more active in their everyday lives, they can help people have healthier and more vibrant lives,” said Clymer.  

About the National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention & Move with the Mayor
The National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention brings together the most dynamic and diverse organizations in cardiovascular health, providing a forum and outlet for organizations to amplify their voices. Our members currently represent more than 90 national and international organizations from the public and private healthcare organizations, as well as faith, advocacy, academic, and policy settings. The National Forum is an independent non-profit, 501(c)(3), voluntary health organization. To learn more, visit www.nationalforum.org.

Mayors use Move with the Mayor to encourage residents to protect and improve their health and to make their communities more active and accessible. Mayors are using Move with the Mayor messaging, policy recommendations, and other tools to empower and protect community members from COVID-19 and improve cardiovascular health and health equity.