Live Well group invites walkers

The Live Well Montgomery County Committee is calling upon all residents of Montgomery County to join hundreds of thousands of Iowans to support the Healthiest State Initiative on Wednesday, Oct. 5.

The walk brings communities together by having an organized Healthiest State Walk, presented by Delta Dental of Iowa, Montgomery County YMCA, Friends of the Red Oak Trails and The Viking Center. 

This year’s Walk aims to “Step It Up” and get people together to walk for 30 minutes. 

“We hope you’ll ‘Step It Up’ with us from 5 to 7 p.m. Walk in your neighborhood, the Montgomery County Family YMCA, The Viking Center, on the Red Oak Trail or anyplace that you feel comfortable,” the group’s press release said. 

“We ask everyone to walk 30 minutes at their own pace as we all take steps to improve our health. You are encouraged to bring a friend, either the two-legged or four-legged type, to keep you company.”

Before the Oct. 5 walk, community members are encouraged to participate in the #WhyIWalk pledge by writing down their own reason for incorporating walking into their daily routine in the long run. These pledges can be shared via photos on social media using the hashtags #StepItUpIowa and #WhyIWalk.

“Just thirty minutes of physical activity each day improves physical, social, and emotional health,” the release said. “Montgomery County is excited to partake in the Healthiest State Walk as it represents a commitment to our residents’ well being. We look forward to not only walking together on Oct. 5, but also initiating a cultural shift towards more activity. Even if you are not able to join our organized walk, we encourage you to go for a 30-minute stroll sometime during the day to support the goal to make Iowa a healthier state.”

No registration is required. For more information regarding the Live Well Montgomery County Walk, contact Nikki Rengstorf at 712-623-7268.