More than 400 UC Riverside staff, faculty, and students walked laps around the outdoor track Wednesday as part of the 10th Annual UC Walks.

The event is a UC systemwide effort to promote an active lifestyle with similar events taking place on all campuses between April and June.

Participants chose how many laps they wanted to walk around the track and were given a colored card to keep count. Those who walked 10 laps were given a special prize in celebration of the 10th anniversary. Special recognition was also given to those who had taken part all 10 years.

“I love that it promotes a healthy lifestyle,” said Rhiannon Little-Surowski, coordinator for UCR’s African Student Programs, who said she joins the walk every year and planned to walk 10 laps. 

A total of 475 students, staff, and faculty members took part, including those at two off-campus locations, said Julie Chobdee, Wellness Program coordinator.

Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox welcomed the walkers with a speech touting the benefits of walking. He noted that eating one M&M requires walking 100 yards to burn off the calories.

“Walking has value — talking to your friends, getting connected, it lets you eat more M&M’s,” he said. “It has great value for you and your health.”

Participants were given free commemorative T-shirts while vendors at several booths offered services and items including healthy snacks, a blood pressure check, and a chair massage. Those who joined the walk were entered into a raffle for special prizes.

“It’s good to be out of your office and exercising, getting the blood flowing,” said Dorria Burgess, an academic program coordinator with the College of Natural Arts and Sciences, who said it was her third year joining UC Walks.