Office of the Governor
David M. Beasley Governor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 1997
Contact: Gary Karr
803/734-9840 or Susie Hancock 803/734-5081
UPDATE
(Columbia) -- First Lady Mary Wood Beasley launched the South Carolina First Lady's Women's Health Campaign today with a walk at Richland Fashion Mall in Columbia. Joining Mrs. Beasley were local, state and national proponents of the campaign. Former South Carolina First Ladies scheduled to attend could not do so because of illness.
"Today we begin our campaign, one where the women and men of our state pledge to support, recruit, educate and involve all to make positive change, " said Mrs. Beasley. "This change will be for our health and the health of our families in our neighborhoods and communities."
South Carolina is the first state to launch a Women's Health Campaign in cooperation with the National Governor's Association Spouses Program. Governor's Spouses around the country are using the women's health campaign to focus on five critical conditions affecting women: breast cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, menopause and mental health.
"In South Carolina we've chosen a positive plan of action where all women can take part," said Mrs. Beasley. "Our campaign will emphasize the importance of being physically active, which can be bicycling, swimming or simply a brisk walk."
According to Mrs. Beasley, South Carolina is one of the most sedentary states in the country, with about 60 percent of women participating in little or no physical activity. She said that the risk of contracting these illnesses most affecting women could be dramatically reduced by physical activity.
As Mrs. Beasley led the other women present on a walk around the mall, she said, "Ours is a campaign of hope. We can make a difference in our own health and in the health of our families."
The Governor's Office is working with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to carry out the First Lady's Women's Health Campaign.
*NOTE: This corrects earlier version to update that former First Ladies could not attend.