Angela Norris, a former patient in the UF Health Shands Hospital Brain Stimulation Unit, has a new outlook on life thanks to Mia Holland, R.T., a UF Health Shands Hospital recreational therapist and GatorCare Wellness Partner.

It all started with a pedometer.

“Walking makes me feel like I have a purpose,” Norris said. “It makes me feel like I can try new things.”

Holland and her teammates were participating in the Spring Walking Challenge, put on by the UF-UF Health Wellness Committee and GatorCare, and encouraged their patients to join in. Taking part in the challenge had an immediate impact on Norris.

“When I woke up in the morning, I didn’t dread getting up and moving,” Norris said. “Once my feet hit the ground, the steps started.”

During the first week of the monthlong challenge, Norris’ goal was to achieve at least 2,000 steps. By the second week, she boosted her weekly goal to 10,000 steps. Norris was the only person on the unit, staff or patient, to become a Work Week Warrior — someone who achieved at least 10,000 steps Monday through Friday.

Holland encouraged everyone on the unit to join in. Participants reported their steps to her, and she displayed the results on the unit’s bulletin boards. She also provided inspirational tips on how to achieve 10,000 steps and information about the health benefits of walking.

“I encourage everybody on the unit to get up and move every hour on the hour because walking has many benefits,” Holland said. “It improves your mood and increases concentration, energy, confidence, strength and endurance. One of my favorite quotes is: ‘Wake up with determination and go to bed with satisfaction.’”

Visit GatorCare.org to learn more about our wellness initiatives and read October’s edition of News+Notes, which will highlight the results of our Annual Wellness Event.

Morgan Papworth, a GatorCare wellness coordinator, said, “What Mia did was fantastic. She told me that her patients were doing so much better and that the walking seemed to really have an impact on them.”