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July 20, 2022
Close to 500 enthusiastic walkers joined the launch of “Walk Out Wednesdays,” the first territorywide event held on July 20, as part of Governor Albert Bryan Jr.’s “Our Best Life” health and wellness initiative. “Walk Out Wednesdays,” a six-week program, kicked off simultaneously from Strand St., Frederiksted, St. Croix; Veteran’s Drive, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas and from Cruz Bay on St. John.
“I want to welcome everybody to the onset of getting healthy,” said Governor Albert Bryan Jr. “This is all about us getting healthy so that we have healthy, stronger families feeling better about one another and checking on one another to make sure that we’re keeping our high blood pressure in check and that we are monitoring our diabetes and that we are doing all of the right things so we can live our best life.”
“Walk Out Wednesdays” will continue through August 24, 2022, and individuals of all ages are encouraged to join the walks, which is at an individual’s own pace.
The goal of the “Our Best Life” initiative is to improve the physical, mental and emotional well-being of all Virgin Islanders through a series of events, activities and services. The Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation will be leading this first event, and will have similar activities and events coming in the next few weeks.
The “Walk Out Wednesday” walking fitness challenge is open to everyone and all ages in an effort to motivate a routine that allows for a healthier and more active lifestyle.
The event requires only 1 day of walking for 2 miles for six weeks, and participants will receive an official “Our Best Life” Team T-shirt, wristband, and towel.
Walkers on St. Croix will meet at Midre Cummings Park at 5:30 pm and walk to Frederiksted Pool which is about 2 miles one way and 2 miles back which would be about 4 miles.
Walkers in St. Thomas will start from Griffith Park and go to Yacht Haven Grande which will be about 1.4 miles one way and back, so almost 3 miles total.
St. John walks will begin at the Virgin Islands National Park ballpark to Caneel Bay Hotel and back. The walk will be about 1.5 miles one way and back would be about 3 miles.
For more information about participating, call the Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation at 340-774-0255 on St. Thomas or 340-773-0160 on St. Croix. To register, click here: https://bit.ly/3z5humA .
July 11, 2022
Governor Albert Bryan Jr. will launch “Walk Out Wednesday” on July 20, as the first Territory-wide event that is part of the Office of the Governor’s “Our Best Life Health and Wellness” initiative.
The goal of the “Our Best Life” initiative is to improve the physical, mental and emotional well-being of all Virgin Islanders through a series of events, activities and services. The Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation will be leading this first event, and will have similar activities and events coming in the next few weeks.
The “Walk Out Wednesday” walking fitness challenge is open to everyone and all ages in an effort to motivate a routine that allows for a healthier and more active lifestyle.
The event requires only 1 day of walking for 2 miles for six weeks, and participants will receive an official “Our Best Life” Team T-shirt, wristband, and towel.
Walkers on St. Croix will meet at Midre Cummings Park at 5:30 pm and walk to Frederiksted Pool which is about 2 miles one way and 2 miles back which would be about 4 miles.
Walkers in St. Thomas will start from Griffith Park and go to Yacht Haven Grande which will be about 1.4 miles one way and back, so almost 3 miles total.
St. John walks will begin at the Virgin Islands National Park ballpark to Caneel Bay Hotel and back. The walk will be about 1.5 miles one way and back would be about 3 miles.
For more information about participating, call the Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation at 340-774-0255 on St. Thomas or 340-773-0160 on St. Croix. To register, click here: https://bit.ly/3z5humA .
May 2, 2022
As part of his “Healthier Horizons” initiative to promote the health and wellness of Virgin Islanders, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. announced his new “Our Best Life” program to support the physical, mental and emotional well-being of residents with a focus on the senior population.
“Our Best Life” is being managed jointly by the Office of the Governor, the Department of Human Services and the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation.
As part of this new health and wellness initiative, Governor Bryan is re-establishing the Commission on Aging to suggest policies affecting seniors; provide more training for home healthcare aides; and expanding “Meals on Wheels” services. Additionally, in the upcoming weeks the Department of Parks, Sports and Recreation will announce plans for major family-oriented events, and the “Our Best Life” website is scheduled to debut live on May 16.
“Virgin Islanders spend more than $150 million annually in medical claims. Most of that money is spent in “sick care,” Bryan said. “Locally, heart disease is the leading cause of death and diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death. Some of the risk factors associated with these major chronic conditions are what we eat, or do not eat, and how active we are.”
-Expanding access to health care.
-Improving that care.
-Modernizing health care facilities.
-Modernizing how health care services are delivered.
Since launching the “Healthier Horizons” initiative at the end of 2019, Governor Bryan has pushed through a number of legislative measures and executive orders to support it, including merging the V.I. Fire Service and Emergency Medical Services; creating the Office of Health Information Technology, to promote and oversee telemedicine services in the Territory; and introducing the Association Health Plan program to expand access to quality, affordable health coverage for U.S. Virgin Islands residents employed by small businesses.
Governor Bryan also has submitted comprehensive behavioral health and developmental disabilities legislation to overhaul the system that cares for and monitors that vulnerable population.
