Gravenhurst Mayor John Klinck is encouraging residents of Gravenhurst to get active this summer and participate in an annual event that promotes physical activity and healthy eating.

The Mayor’s Walk takes place today at 12 p.m., starting and ending at Gravenhurst Centennial Centre. This year’s walk has a poker theme and participants will walk the route from the Centennial Centre, stopping at key locations in town to collect cards for their hand.

Stops include the Train Station, Gravenhurst Opera House and Municipal Office, then back to the Centennial Centre for a healthy lunch cooked up by the Gravenhurst Rotary Club, and prizes.

The Mayor’s Walk is part of SummerActive, a seasonal campaign designed to get Ontarians active between May and June.

This year SummerActive has a focus on the inactive population, “Get Up, Go Out! Be Summer Active!”

“Do more, more often” is the theme for people to get outside and benefit by becoming more active. This is the message that the Mayor’s Walk is representing.

May 14 is also the kick-off to the six-week Community Walking for the Stars program. This free program is available to everyone in the community who needs a boost to encourage them to walk more often. Sign up at the Gravenhurst Public Library and once walkers complete their goal, they fill out a ballot at the library to win a prize. Every person who signs up receives a tote bag filled with healthy eating tips, a walking log and a pedometer to count the number of steps they walk in a day and a week.

Walking 40,000 steps a week earns a green star and is considered a “healthy walker” level; 70,000 steps a week earns a silver star for the “fitness walker” level; and 100,000 steps a week earns a gold star and is considered an “athletic walker” level.

For more information, contact recreation program co-ordinator Judy Vanderveer at 687-6774, ext. 22.