Kadlec Healthy Ages, and one man's 30,000 mile journey to better health

People wave and call out to Courtland Smith, 80, as he walks through the Columbia Center mall. They know him well.

When he first began walking, he was hooked to an oxygen tank and had a nurse beside him. That was 30,000 miles ago. He no longer needs the nurse, the oxygen, an inhaler or any other devices. Sometimes he hands out Life Savers candy as he walks, which has earned him the nickname of the Candyman.

“It has been so good for me that I don’t want to stop,” he said. “I walk every day and usually do 10 miles a day.”

Kadlec Healthy Ages recently honored Smith, complete with an enormous bag of Life Savers, for reaching the 30,000 milestone. Also honored were Nita Berry, who hit 5,000, and Mary Stanford, who achieved 10,000 miles.

Kadlec Healthy Ages is a free membership program for people 50 and over and is supported by Kadlec Foundation. Among its many classes and programs is the mall walking program.  The mall offers a climate-controlled environment where walkers can walk safely year-round. People in the program also can log miles walking out in the community or on a treadmill. They track their miles and report them to Health Ages to receive prizes such as patches, t-shirts and fanny packs.

To learn more, call 509-942-2700 or visit Kadlec Healthy Ages | Providence.

For Smith, the program has made an enormous difference in his health and life. He has chronic beryllium disease, a serious lung condition caused by inhalation of dust or fumes from a metal used in some high-tech industries. It left him sick, weak, out of breath and reliant on oxygen.

“They told me I wouldn’t be able to walk anymore,” Smith said as he happily walked around the mall.

Cathy Manderbach, Kadlec Community Services supervisor, said the program makes walking more fun and social, and helps incentivize people to walk for improved health. Smith is a striking example of the power of walking. He joined the Healthy Ages mall walkers in 2009 and has been hitting milestones ever since. He now averages 5,000 miles a year.

"I believe that he has logged the most miles in the history of the program," Manderbach said. "he is pretty inspiring."