When our Transportation team isn’t keeping Akron moving, they need to keep themselves moving. Just ask Cathy Turner, one of our full-time drivers. Five years ago, Cathy received a Fibromyalgia diagnosis. For years she relied on medications, but found it was doing little to alleviate her pain and stiffness. However, one faithful day in January, that all changed.
Tired of her discomfort, Cathy began walking. In fact, you may have noticed her walking around outside the perimeter of UDS, or you may have seen her briskly moving along our walking path within the West Wing. Waking great distances was slow at first, with Cathy only being able to walk a couple of laps before getting tired. Over time, she increased her laps, and set a goal for two miles every day.
Now, after improving to over five miles a day, she no longer tracks her daily mileage, instead focusing on how many miles she completes in a month. Some weeks, Cathy can walk up to 28 miles! Since starting her journey, Cathy has lost forty-five pounds, and she says the pain and stiffness in her body is minimal.
Cathy walks so frequently she’s even starting to inspire others at UDS. After seeing her move, direct support professionals began asking Cathy if she would like to help consumers walk around the track, which she happily obliges. A couple of employees even started walking thanks to Cathy’s awesome motivation and determination.
For those unsure about starting their own journey, Cathy has some advice. “My advice is make up your mind on what you want to be, what you want health wise to be,” she says. “And then do not stop until you obtain your goal. That’s my advice.”
Thank you Cathy for being an inspiration to others on their own health and wellness journey.