D&L and St. Luke's Says: Get Your Tail on the Trail

Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (D&L) and St. Luke’s University Health Network are encouraging residents of the Lehigh Valley and nearby areas to get healthier through the “Get Your Tail on the Trail!” initiative.  

On May 1, D&L Trail, St. Luke’s University Health Network and the Bethlehem Health Bureau joined together for the kick-off event of Get Your Tail on the Trail, an initiative to encourage people of all ages and all activity levels to get outdoors, get active and explore nature by walking, running or biking the D&L Trail. 

“St. Luke’s is very excited to partner with D&L to encourage the whole Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas to become more active by walking, running or biking on the beautiful local trails,” said Bonnie Coyle, MD, Director, St. Luke’s University Health Network Community Health Department.  “Daily exercise increases strength and endurance, helps to maintain a healthy weight, decreases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and provides you with a more restful sleep.”  Additional benefits of regular exercise include an improved self-esteem, especially for children and adolescents, said Dr. Coyle.

As part of the Get Your Tail on the Trail kickoff, nearly 200 students, teachers and chaperones from Broughal Middle School and Donegan and Fountain Hill Elementary schools will walk the trail at Sand Island and learn about the history of the trail and plant preservation efforts, participate in a zumba class, investigate St. Luke’s HealthStar van and meet a live mule (an integral part of the lock system on the canals) and donkey.

“Many local programs are available to help members of the community to be healthy,”  said Kristen Wenrich, Director, Bethlehem Health Bureau.  “To help children grow into healthy adults, we encourage our youth to get active, eat nutritious foods and adopt a healthy lifestyle.”  A program that provides educational modules every month is called “Vive Tu Vida” (Live Your Life), added Wenrich.

“Get Your Tail on the Trail is an innovative wellness program that starts today.  Together with our good friends at St. Luke’s University Health Network, the initiative recognizes that community health -- good civic health -- comes not just from a physically healthy community, but also from a community that cares for and celebrates its roots as well,”  said Elissa Garofalo, President and Executive Director of D&L. 

“Today it’s time for our region to get healthy again,” Garofalo continued.  “The trails are yours to explore --  return to the beautiful lands in our back yards which are public and saved, thanks to the leadership by D&L.”

The Get Your Tail on the Trail 165-mile challenge participants will register at www.tailonthetrail.org – each participant receives a free backpack, water bottle and instructions about how to log miles.   Milestone goals will be rewarded with special prizes. 

To help exercisers log in their miles, St. Luke’s and D&L will be hosting special “champion” events throughout the summer and fall near each St. Luke’s campus.  The events are on the following dates, times and locations:

• 9 am on June 1 at Carbon County Trailhead, Jim Thorpe
• 9 am on June 29 at Lehigh Canal Park off of Hamilton Blvd, Allentown
• 9 am on July 27 at the Perkiomen Trail, Quakertown
• 9 am on August 25 at Sand Island, Bethlehem to Freemansburg
• 10 am on September 28 at Hope Road access, Easton
• 10 am on October 26 at Hugh Moore Park to Easton

Events include the St. Luke’s HealthStar van, free giveaways and snacks.  Registration is encouraged.   Please call St. Luke’s InfoLink at 1-866-STLUKES (1-866-785-8537).