For anyone stuck in traffic along Constance Road or North Main Street Saturday morning, you saw more than 500 local residents focused on getting healthy and ensuring Suffolk becomes a much healthier city.

We again applaud the efforts of the Suffolk Partnership for a Healthy Community for their drive in organizing “Suffolk on the Move.” The initiative, which combines the effort of the partnership and the Suffolk Parks and Recreation, is a yearlong program aimed at improving the health of residents.

Long before the summer temperatures reached near 100 degrees, walkers and runners alike converged on areas of downtown Suffolk, participating in either the 5K walk, 5K run or one-mile fun run.

Not only was it inspiring to see such a great turnout, but the ages represented at the event showed this initiative could be one that changes the mindset of healthy living for so many.

Parents brought their children, men and women brought their spouses and children brought along their friends to participate.

The city’s efforts with this program were also encouraging. City employees helped ensure participants’ safety at the event, and also helped market the event beforehand.

Now, the challenge is to keep the momentum going.

With children out of school, it will be important to keep educating them on the benefits of healthy activities, healthy eating and all the different components of a healthy lifestyle.

Saturday was yet another step for the Suffolk Partnership for a Healthy Community, in fulfilling its mission of improving the lives of all Suffolkians, regardless of age.

Saturday’s was definitely hot, but the participation and overall success of this event, proves “Suffolk On the Move” is off to a much hotter start.