According to Kentucky by the Numbers COVID-19 At Risk Report, 37.8% of adults from Letcher County are obese, 23.1% have diabetes, 59.1% have hypertension and 32.8% report fair or poor health.  People of all ages, especially those with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for COVID-19 and severe illnesses, particularly if the underlying medical conditions are not well controlled. According to the CDC chronic diseases can be prevented by eating well and being physically active.

In an effort to address this issue, the Letcher County Family & Consumer Sciences Agent in collaboration with Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation and the Owsley and Perry County FCS Agents hosted a virtual 5K event to get community members physically active.  Twenty-seven Letcher County residents participated and completed this virtual event with the following results:

100% of the participants met a goal by participating

Five participants completed their first ever 5K

Proudest moments by some participants include: “Building the stamina to do a 5K”, Getting to spend time with someone I love and accomplish the goal together, “The feeling I know I put myself first today”, “That I felt great at the end”, and “Endurance! Slow and steady! I’ve always wanted to enter but doubted by ability”.