Caleb Nickerson
PONTIAC July 12, 2017
Nurses from the Pontiac Family Medicine Group (GMF) have started a weekly walking group called “Pontiac Walks/Marche Pontiac” to help their patients – and the general public – get in shape.
Katie Taylor, one of the nurses behind the initiative, said that the walks are 30 minutes long and take place throughout the week in four locations across the Pontiac.

She said that though the group was started as a way to help their clients with chronic illnesses, anyone is welcome to join.
“Young or old, healthy or not healthy, we all need to be exercising more,” she said, noting that current guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week. “There are all kinds of benefits from physical activity.”
The program began in June and will run till September 1. Groups leave the CLSC in Otter Lake at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesdays, the Lotus Clinic in Shawville at 9 a.m. on Wednesdays, the CLSC in Quyon at 9 a.m. on Thursdays and the CLSC in Fort Coulonge at 10 a.m. on Thursdays.
“We’d like to get everyone walking three times a week but our goal is just to get them out once with us and walking a little bit on their own outside the group,” Taylor concluded.
Participants are encouraged to walk at their own pace and to come prepared with water, glucose and sunscreen as needed. Those seeking more information can contact any of the locations mentioned above.