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School of Nursing ‘Walks’ to Wuhan, China

As part of wellness initiative, Duke employees and students set course to walk 9,000 miles

Jane Halpin, the associate director of Pre-Award Research Administration at the Duke School of Nursing, is taking the lead in the school's “Walk to Wuhan Race.
Jane Halpin, the associate director of Pre-Award Research Administration at the Duke School of Nursing, is taking the lead in the school's “Walk to Wuhan Race." Photo by April Dudash

Before the start of Jane Halpin’s workday at Duke’s School of Nursing, she puts in earbuds and listens to an audiobook as she walks through Sarah P. Duke Gardens and down Chapel Drive.Halpin, the associate director of Pre-Award Research Administration at the school, logs about 8 exercise miles per day; she admits she’s a little competitive when it comes to the school’s new wellness challenge, which is encouraging three teams of faculty, students and staff this spring to walk about 9,000 virtual miles to Wuhan, China, the site of their partner school, the Wuhan University School of Public Health.Since Halpin joined the challenge April 9, she has logged about 184 exercise miles in just 26 days, taking the lead in the staff category. “I look for opportunities to incentivize me to get active,” she said. “I try to get as much in as I can.”The School of Nursing’s “Walk to Wuhan Race” equates 2,112 steps to one mile, or one hour of walking to four miles. At the end of every day, participants receive an email reminder to log their miles on the website “RunWithMe,” which displays the route to Wuhan as well as team and individual progress. The wellness challenge is part of the School of Nursing’s ongoing “DUSON Strong” initiative, which encourages the Duke nursing community to exude healthy exercise and eating habits, participate in community service, and give charitable donations.The race began April 9, and about three weeks later, nursing students have taken the lead, logging a total of 1,470 miles as of May 4 and virtually walking their way through North Dakota on their quest to Wuhan. At this rate, the student team could reach Wuhan by early September. Participants can log all types of exercise, from taking a Zumba class to walking. Paula Tanabe, an associate professor in the schools of Nursing and Medicine, said she hopes the “Walk to Wuhan Race” helps Duke Nursing become one of the most fit nursing schools in the nation. She and other faculty members meet up after work on Tuesdays to run the track near Wallace Wade Stadium or circle the East Campus loop.“You do a better job at everything if you feel better and can work together better collaboratively and help take care of each other,” Tanabe said. “We need to be good role models for each other and our patients.”Halpin, the School of Nursing staff member, continues to take the lead, pushing her team through Wisconsin. She said this challenge coincides with her personal journey to better her health. Only a year ago, she weighed 246 pounds, developed health issues such as tendonitis in one ankle and felt 10 years older than her actual age, 57.She’s lost 62 pounds since then, moving closer to her goal weight of 140. “It takes a little bit of planning and it takes a lot of commitment, but with this challenge, it makes it fun,” she said. “It’s kind of nice seeing my name up there in the lead.”