The Power of Taking that First Step
June 1, 2026

When most people think about improving their health, they often focus on dramatic changes.

  • A new diet.
  • An intense workout program.
  • A major lifestyle overhaul.


But the truth is that lasting change usually begins with something much simpler.


A single step.


Walking is one of the most accessible forms of physical activity available. It requires no special equipment, no gym membership, and no prior experience. Yet research continues to show that regular walking can help improve cardiovascular health, reduce stress, support weight management, and play an important role in preventing type 2 diabetes.


Perhaps most importantly, walking meets people where they are. That's why movement is at the center of so much of the work we're doing this month. Last week, we launched the Healthy Soles 4-Week Step Challenge – Juneteenth 5K Edition. The challenge is designed to encourage people to move more, track their progress, and discover how quickly small actions can add up over time.


Participants are logging their daily steps, encouraging one another, and competing for weekly prizes. Our first weekly winner took home a weighted vest, and we have several exciting prizes still to be awarded before the challenge concludes on June 17.


The same philosophy is guiding our work with students through the Fit Futures Run Club. Although the school year has ended, our partnership with the Boys & Girls Club at Sligh Middle School allows Run Club to continue throughout the summer months. For many of these students, each practice is building confidence, endurance, and healthy habits that can last a lifetime. This summer, many of those students are working toward a goal that will be a first for them: participating in the Juneteenth 5K CommUnity Walk/Run.


They're not alone. One of the most encouraging things we learned from last year's event was that more than 40% of participants were taking part in their first 5K. Hundreds of people showed up, many unsure of what to expect, and crossed a finish line they had never crossed before.


That is the power of taking the first step. This year's Juneteenth 5K CommUnity Walk/Run will be held in a new location—Lowry Park along the beautiful Hillsborough River. The event remains free and open to everyone, whether you're an experienced runner, an occasional walker, or someone simply looking for a positive way to spend a morning with family and friends.


We're also encouraging participants to form teams and help raise funds to support the Fit Futures Run Club, ensuring that more young people have access to the coaching, encouragement, and opportunities that help create healthier futures.


You've probably heard that every journey starts with a single step. But let's be honest. Who takes just one? One step usually leads to another. And before you know it, you're moving in the right direction. That's exactly what we're inviting you to do this June. Don't wait. Start today with the Healthy Soles Step Challenge. Build momentum, have some fun, and establish a healthy habit that can last long after the challenge ends.


Then bring that momentum with you to Lowry Park for the Juneteenth 5K CommUnity Walk/Run.

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πŸ‘‰ Join the Healthy Soles Step Challenge today.

https://raceroster.com/events/2026/129727/healthy-soles-step-challenge-juneteenth-5k-edition


πŸ‘‰ Then register for the Juneteenth 5K CommUnity Walk/Run and join us at Lowry Park.

https://raceroster.com/events/2026/102779/juneteenth-5k-community-walkrun

Where It Starts Matters

By Trey Brady • May 1, 2026
Where We Start Matters For the past few months, we’ve been working with students at Sligh Middle School through our Fit Futures Run Club , and that work led to an invitation to something special. I was invited to attend the 3rd Annual White Coat Ceremony at Thaddeus M. Bullard Academy at Sligh Middle Magnet School . Shortly after arriving, I realized it would be one of those moments that stays with you. More than 40 eighth-grade students in the school’s medical pathway stepped forward to receive their white coats—a rite of passage recognizing the work they’ve already put in toward pursuing careers in healthcare. Each student received a white coat representing the commitment they’ve made to the values of the medical profession—integrity, discipline, and service—at an age when most are still discovering what’s possible. Standing there, watching that moment unfold, one thought kept coming to mind: w here we start matters. Because when it comes to type 2 diabetes, too often we’re starting too late. Changing the Game That’s exactly why Fit Futures exists. What began as a novel idea is now taking shape in a real way at Sligh Middle School through our Run Club . With two dedicated coaches now leading the program, students are not just learning about health, they’re putting it into action every week. βœ… They’re building endurance. βœ… They’re developing discipline. βœ… They’re gaining confidence with every step. With support from TampaWell, we’re able to ensure that students who need it most have access to the structure, coaching, and opportunities to take control of their health journey. This is what prevention looks like in action. Keeping the Momentum Going As the school year comes to a close on May 29, we won’t pause. Through a partnership with the Boys & Girls Club at Sligh, Run Club will continue throughout the summer months —because habits don’t form in a few weeks. They’re built over time. And we’re using the summer to keep building something meaningful. The goal is clear: Prepare our Run Club participants to walk or run in the upcoming Juneteenth 5K CommUnity Walk/Run. For many of these students, this will be their first 5K. We want every participant to experience that moment of crossing the finish line—and proving to themselves what they’re capable of. From the Track to the Community The Juneteenth 5K CommUnity Walk/Run is where it all comes together. It’s where the work happening through Run Club extends into the broader community, bringing together students, families, and neighbors around a shared commitment to better health. This year, the event moves to a new location —Lowry Park, along the Hillsborough River , creating an even more inviting space for connection and movement. It remains free and open to all , because access matters. But we’re asking you to take it one step further: πŸ‘‰ Form a team. Invite your network. Help us fundraise. Every dollar raised supports the Fit Futures Run Club , ensuring that more young people have the opportunity to start earlier and build a healthier future. We’re building something meaningful, and we’re asking for your support. πŸ‘‰ Register here: https://raceroster.com/events/2026/102779/juneteenth-5k-community-walkrun

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