July 12, 2008

SALT LAKE CITY – Nearly 400 women and a few men participated in a 4K Run, Walk and Roll July 12, one of many activities that emphasized good health for women and girls during the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Seventh Triennial Gathering here July 10-13.

The gathering theme, "Come to the Waters," focuses on the celebration of Baptism through Bible study, speakers, workshops, community service and worship. Approximately 2,000 women are attending the gathering being held at the Salt Palace Convention Center.

The 4K event is part of the women's organization initiative, "Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls." Participants gathered pledges to benefit the initiative. Susan Drane, president, ELCA Rocky Mountain synodical women's organization, secured $5,535 in pledges, and more funds were being given to her while she was here. Her congregation, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Mesa, Ariz., pledged nearly half of the money. Another $500 was given by one of her clients who had suffered three heart attacks, she said. The rest came from members of the synodical women's organization.

Another contributor was Zoe Zieter, 11, member of St. John Lutheran Church, Green Bay, Wis. Zieter, who participated in the 4K event, gathered $500 in pledges.

For the next three years, funds raised will be used for resources focusing on women's physical, emotional and spiritual health, and Women of the ELCA is planning to forge an alliance with the American Heart Association (AHA) to promote women's health.

"I want you all to know how much we appreciate your pledges and your money for raising up healthy women and girls," said Valora K. Starr, associate for programs, Women of the ELCA, Chicago, in remarks at the event. "It is so important for our work in heart disease and stroke and eliminating that in our lifetime. We can make a difference."

The ELCA Board of Pensions, which manages health insurance and pension programs for the church, sponsors the women's health initiative.

"Your presence here demonstrates your leadership and your commitment to modeling healthy behaviors, and impacting the lives of women and girls, and those they touch," said Kimberly Purifoy, ELCA Board of Pensions, Minneapolis.

She recommended that Women of the ELCA participants encourage their congregations and communities to work toward better health for all members. "We want you to run, walk or roll to a healthier you," she said.

The Rev. Elizabeth C. Birkholz-Seeke, Alpharetta, Ga., told the participants that she regularly runs to maintain good health. Her family members have a history of heart disease, and her father died of a heart attack at age 51, she told the participants.

"I decided several years ago that I did not want to be overweight, I did not want to be unhealthy, and I wanted to live for my children," she said, adding that she lost 50 lbs. through regular exercise, including running.

In an informational seminar at the gathering, Elizabeth Burlew, nurse practitioner, division of cardiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, said, "Most women do not know that heart disease is the number one killer of women. The good news is that heart disease is preventable."

Burlew recommended that women go to http://www.goredforwomen.org on the Web to take an online health risk assessment offered by the AHA.

Gathering participants walked through a "Healthy Heart Fair: Stations of the Healthy Heart," which featured Bible verses combined with health messages. Twelve stations, sponsored by different synodical women's organizations, focused attention on hearts that are active, bold, clean, forgiving, healthy, joyful, just, kind, loving, peaceful, prayer-filled and strong.

Among the gathering workshops was "Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls," in which participants learned about physical, emotional and spiritual health. They also learned about Women of the ELCA's health initiative and how to hold health events in their communities.

Information about the Women of the ELCA Seventh Triennial Gathering is at http://womenoftheELCA.org/tg08/, on the Web.

ELCA News Service