Healthy State Walk Serves To Motivate To Make A Change

Almost two dozen area residents took part in the “Healthiest State” walk on the Oskaloosa Square Wednesday.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The “Healthiest State” initiative took root in August of 2011 when then Iowa Governor Terry Branstad wanted to make Iowa the healthiest state in the next five years.

Oskaloosa held a 100 Day Wellness Challenge in the early months of 2011 and hosted “Step Along With Us” walks held the first Friday of each month that year.

In October of 2012, the “Healthiest State” initiative moved to the fall weather and focused on a community walk.

Fast forward to 2017, and the annual walk is still in place, and almost two dozen found their way to the square in downtown Oskaloosa to participate.

Lea Rice, with Mahaska Health Partnership, said one of the goals this year with the initiative was to promote a walk in all 99 counties, to promote walking as a “great exercise” and a “great way to get out and meet people in the community, stay active and stay healthy”.

Mahaska Health Partnership also hosted two walks at their facility to help make it easier for their staff and the community to take part.

Rice said that “As a state, we just want to keep our residents healthy. One easy way to do that is through promoting walking. Having communities that are walkable with sidewalks and walking trails, and making sure people are aware of where they can walk in their community.”

After five years of walking, Rice says that she believes that the interest in walking is “ongoing” and believes there is “a lot of growing interest in walking and making our community more walkable and maintaining the walkability we have.”