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The News of Orange County Durham health departments duel in walk off The Benefits of Walking 1 Reduce the risk of coronary heart disease 2 Improve blood pressure and blood sugar levels 3 Improve blood lipid profile 4 Maintain body weight and lower the risk of obesity 5 Enhance mental well being 6 Reduce the risk of osteoporosis 7 Reduce the risk of breast and colon cancer 8 Reduce the risk of non-insulin dependent—type 2—diabetes Source: American Heart Association Posted: Friday, August 7, 2015 5:00 am By Amanda VanDerBroek, News of Orange staff writer, a.vanderbroek@newsoforange.com Local health departments are not only talking the talk but walking the walk. On Monday, Aug. 3, employees from the Orange County Health Department and the Durham County Department of Public Health strapped up their shoes to compete against each other in a walking challenge. The competition tasks those participating to collectively walk 2,168.1 miles—the distance of the Appalachian Trail. Stacy Shelp, public information officer with the Orange County Health Department, said the idea came from Health Director Colleen Bridger, who wanted to get her staff more active to promote both physical and mental health. Shelp said it wasn’t until Bridger challenged her staff this past spring to walk the distance collectively between Orange County, N.C., and Orange County, Calif., that employees took note. “We had tremendous results,” Shelp said. “The staff was excited and competitive.” Coming off the success of the California challenge, the health department decided to up the ante by extending an invite to Durham. And Durham County Department of Public Health was willing to take their counterparts head on. “We’re going to give them a run for their money,” Eric Nickens Jr., Durham County Department of Public Health communications and public relations manager, said.