When Dr. Tahmeena Ali arrived in South Surrey 2½ years ago from Alberta, she was shocked to discover that many of the patients in her waiting room were far older than they looked.
The common denominator, she found, was – and remains, still – the seniors' activity levels.
Many make walks a part of their daily routine, and anything that gets in the way of that is, in a word, frustrating for them.
"White Rock, in general, has a very healthy community," Ali said.
Ali is among 20 to 30 doctors with the White Rock & South Surrey Division of Family Practice who will be participating in Friday's Walk With Your Doc event, set for 7:30 a.m. May 8 on White Rock's waterfront.
She described it as "another way to really showcase the health benefits of walking."
"People think that they need to go to the gym or start a running program. The health benefits of simply walking… have been shown to be beneficial in virtually every realm," Ali said. "Every ailment out there benefits from the process of going outside and going for a simple walk, even if it's going for 10 minutes."
The fact it's free is an added bonus.
Ali plans to bring her twin six-year-old daughters and eight-year-old son to walk with her on Friday. She noted that making exercise routine at a young age is an important step in developing a lifelong habit.
"They're at an age where it's so easy," Ali said. "Just try to continue that habit."
Friday's walk is open to all ages, and paces off from the White Rock Museum and Archives, 14970 Marine Dr.