Walking has become a daily ritual for Annette Bell, director of the community wellness program at Mercy Connections in East Walnut Hills.

She has 230 third-, fourth- and sixth-graders taking at least 3,000 steps a day and keeping records of their movements with pedometers.

"The goal is to reach 10,000 steps a day, and keep the children active during the school day," Bell said. "The pedometers act as a motivator for them. I want them to be active during recess and quit standing around. Walking and keeping a record of their steps is a way to reduce obesity and help prevent diabetes."

Annette Bell, dietician at Allison Elementary School, walks with Becca Adams (from left), 9, Larry Matthews, 8, Amanda Harris, 9, Connor McFerron, 8, and Wesley Hatfield, 9. They start at 3,000 steps a day and work up to 4,000. The Cincinnati Enquirer/MELISSA HEATHERLY

Her program is operating at Allison Elementary School in Norwood, where 97 third- and sixth-graders are active in the program. She also has 133 third- and fourth-graders in the program at Heritage Hill School in Springdale.

"We started the program a year ago. I started them taking at least 3,000 steps a day. Then they moved up to 3,500 and then 4,000 steps," Bell said.

She said 10,000 steps equal about 30 minutes of moderate exercising a day.

"The average American takes about 3,000 steps a day. That is not enough. That is why we are all getting obese," Bell said.

2 local woman among legends

Two Cincinnati women are among four Ohioans receiving awards in the Local Legends program of the American Medical Women's Association.

They are Dr. Evelyn Hess, professor of medicine in the Division of Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center; and Dr. Beatrice Lampkin, professor of pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, division of hematology/oncology, and the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Dr. Clara Bloomfield, a cancer scholar and adviser to the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center; and Dr. Mary Jo Welker, associate dean for primary care and chairwoman of the Department of Family Medicine at Ohio State University, were also honored.

The women were recognized in February at the American Medical Women Association annual meeting in San Diego.

The Local Legends program spotlights women for their achievements and the challenges they face to become physicians.

Company supports runners

As a new sponsor of the Flying Pig Marathon, Corporate Express employees will be offering moral support as well as participating in the run today.

Runners to benefit programs

Ben Moore, chief operating officer of CityWatcher, said his employees will Run for Safety today in the Flying Pig Marathon.

The company provides surveillance technology. Moore said proceeds from the run will be channeled into programs in urban neighborhoods.

Mitzvah Day opportunities

Families will be learning about more than community service today as they participate in Mitzvah Day.

"In Judaism, we're taught that you should be doing mitzvahs, or good things, all the time. And the Mitzvah Day provides opportunities for families to do these together," said Adena Cytron-Walker, 27, of Blue Ash, one of the organizers of the annual event.

More than 200 people have registered to help 12 organizations, ranging from baking cookies for firefighters at the Blue Ash Fire Department to helping People Working Cooperatively fix the yard of a homebound senior.

The event is hosted by Ohav Shalom, 8100 Cornell Road, and Cytron-Walker expects people from all over the Cincinnati Jewish community.

"We want to stress that there are continuing opportunities to do good deeds," said Cytron-Walker. "We're hoping people will enjoy these organizations and continue to work with them."

To volunteer, be at Ohav Shalom at 12:30 p.m. today to 5:30 p.m..

Deacon ordained

Last week, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati ordained 16 as permanent deacons. Tim Cooker, 46, of Cincinnati, was among them. He will serve at St. James the Greater Parish in White Oak. His name was omitted from a list of Greater Cincinnatians that appeared in the Local News section last Sunday.