Central Texas Veterans Health Care System

In support of employee wellness month, the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System is hosting a 2K Walk and Roll event on Wednesday, May 16, 2012, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Veterans and the public are invited to join in the 2K at one of the locations listed below. In addition to taking a fun, short walk to collect donations to help homeless Veterans, there will be music, food and giveaways (while supplies last).

“Worksite wellness activities enhance employee engagement and contribute to a more productive and healthy workforce,” said Thomas Smith, Director. “We here at Central Texas Veterans Health Care System are proud to conduct this VA2K event and are committed to ensuring we have a happy and healthy workforce to serve our Veteran community.”

Many other 2Ks are taking place at VA facilities across the country. There is no registration fee, but employees and volunteers participating in the event are asked to donate an item for a homeless Veteran; such as underwear, T-shirts and socks (new, in unopened packages), toiletry items (alcohol free), phone cards, bus tokens, or boots and shoes (clean and not worn); Voluntary Service will be on hand to accept cash donations. Donations are optional for community participants.

Other individuals and agencies will join the VA2K Walk and Roll. At the Temple 2K event, the Warrior Transition Brigade and 13^th ESC 180^th Transportation Battalion — 289^th Unit from Fort Hood, Belton Independent School District youth representing the TEAM Leadership-AVIS-PALS student groups, and employees from Wal-Mart and HEB will participate in the activities. In Waco, 200 employees from the Health Resource Center will join in the walk and roll. At the Austin VA Outpatient Clinic event, employees from the Austin Information Technology Center and the Austin Finance Center will join in the 2K Walk and Roll. In Palestine, local school district students, the Veterans Service Office, and local Veterans groups, including the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans, will be participating. Collection boxes for donations will be located in the Palestine Mall and Palestine VA Clinic, so items may be dropped off earlier if desired.

For additional information or more event details, please contact the local 2K coordinator, Dr. Valerie Van Wormer at 254-743-0357 or via email at Valerie.VanWormer2@va.gov. For more information about the Palestine event, contact the VA2K coordinator, Patricia Beckendorf, RN, at 903-723-9006.

VA2K Locations and music lineups:

VA’s employee wellness program is known as WIN (Wellness is Now). WIN empowers employees with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to create a culture of health and wellness as well as encourages them to use their appreciation of wellness to inspire Veterans to live healthier lifestyles. WIN integrates traditional occupational safety and health programs with health promotion activities, addressing both workplace and worker health and helping VA employees to do their important work of serving the Nation’s Veterans.

For more information on Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, see www.centraltexas.va.gov.

Media wishing to cover the event should contact Deborah Meyer at 254.743.2376 or cell at 254.534.0304.